Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has said that Tehran’s recent strikes on US military bases have reshaped the region’s security landscape, presenting them as proof of Iran’s growing military reach and resilience.
Speaking in an online interview, Araqchi said Iran had long expected the possibility of war and had prepared for multiple scenarios, including joint US-Israeli attacks and even threats against its top leadership. He stressed that the country was not caught off guard and was ready to respond from the outset.
Despite these expectations, Iran chose to enter negotiations with Washington. Araqchi described the talks as an effort to exhaust diplomatic options and show the international community that Tehran was willing to pursue peaceful solutions. However, he accused the United States of insisting on “zero enrichment” of uranium and ultimately turning to military action when diplomacy failed to achieve that goal.
Rejecting the idea that diplomacy triggered the conflict, Araqchi argued that the war stemmed from a miscalculation by the US and Israel, who believed Iran had been weakened. Instead, he said, Iran demonstrated strong resistance, forcing its adversaries to halt their campaign.
He added that earlier fighting, including a 12-day conflict, helped Iran improve its military readiness and missile capabilities, which later played a key role in a longer 40-day confrontation. According to him, these upgrades challenged enemy expectations and strengthened Iran’s position.
Araqchi also said Iran’s armed forces remained on full alert during negotiations and never relied on diplomacy for defense. Contingency plans, including the possible closure of the Strait of Hormuz, were prepared in advance.
He emphasized that Iran’s nuclear policy remains unchanged, rejecting demands to halt uranium enrichment and insisting that its nuclear rights are non-negotiable, even as it continues to favor diplomacy over war.
