Iran Prepared To Defend Itself ‘As Long As It Takes’, Says Foreign Minister Araghchi

Seyed Abbas Araghchi has said that Iran is not asking for a ceasefire or negotiations with the United States. He said Tehran will defend itself ‘as long as it takes’ against what he described as an ‘illegal war’.

In an interview with CBS News aired Sunday, the Iranian Minister rejected claims that the country had sought an end to hostilities, according to a report by Xinhua News Agency.

“We never asked for a ceasefire, and we have never asked even for negotiations. We are ready to defend ourselves as long as it takes,” he said.

Araghchi said Iran would continue its operations until Donald Trump comes to the point that this is an illegal war with no victory.

“We don’t see any reason why we should talk with Americans, because we were talking with them when they decided to attack us, and that was for the second time,” he added.

Addressing concerns about the Strait of Hormuz, Araghchi stressed that Iran has not closed the crucial waterway.

“This is up to our military to decide, and they have already decided to let a group of vessels belongs to different countries to pass,” he noted.

On the nuclear issue, the Iranian Minister reiterated that Tehran has never sought nuclear weapons.

Araghchi revealed that Iran had agreed to dilute its enriched uranium during pre-attack discussions with the United States. However, he said the materials are now buried following strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

“Everything is under the rubble,” he said, adding that Iran currently has no plans to recover enriched uranium stockpiles from the damaged sites.

Claims of Regional Attacks and Proposal for Investigation

Earlier on Sunday, Araghchi said Tehran has information suggesting that the United States and Israel are launching attacks from certain locations against Arab states in West Asia.

The Iranian Minister made the remarks in an interview with the pan-Arab outlet Al-Araby Al-Jadeed. He questioned the origin of attacks on regional Arab states that have been blamed on Iran.

Araghchi said Iran is willing to meet with regional states to form a joint committee to investigate the nature of the attacked targets. He added that Iran’s strikes had only targeted US bases and interests in retaliation for attacks launched from those sites.

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