Iranian Foreign Minister: Washington caved to Netanyahu’s war agenda

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi issued a series of strongly worded statements on Sunday following US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, calling the attack a blatant violation of international law and a dangerous provocation with far-reaching consequences.

In comments broadcast on state media and shared widely online, the foreign minister condemned the strike.

"We strongly condemn the US attack on nuclear facilities," he said, adding that Iran "will never compromise on the sovereignty and independence of Iranian territory and the Iranian people."

He added, "The US administration bears full responsibility for the dangerous consequences of this aggression."

The foreign minister insisted that the strikes targeted peaceful nuclear facilities, which he emphasized remain under international supervision. "Military action against peaceful nuclear facilities in Iran is a blatant violation of international law," he warned.

Iran, he said, will respond through all available means. "We will use all possible and necessary means to confront the American and Israeli aggression," he declared, also criticizing Washington for allegedly caving to the agenda of 'Israeli' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "Washington has yielded to the will of war criminal Netanyahu in fulfilling his expansionist desires."

Referring to US President Donald Trump, the minister remarked, "Trump did not only deceive Iran, but also his own country."

He affirmed that Tehran retains all options to protect itself. "We retain all options to defend our security, interests, and people."

Despite the escalation, he expressed a conditional openness to diplomacy. "The door to diplomacy must remain open, but we must respond based on our legitimate right to self-defense."

However, he dismissed renewed calls for negotiations, saying, "There is no meaning in asking Iran to return to the negotiation table now."

The foreign minister also urged the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Board of Governors to formally condemn the US attack, stating that the "United States has blown up the negotiations we were conducting with the Europeans" and has "shown no respect for any international laws."

He added that Iran is facing aggression from nuclear powers while itself remaining a non-nuclear state. "Iran is under attack by nuclear-armed powers, while we possess no nuclear weapons," he said, reaffirming Iran’s commitment to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Still, he questioned its effectiveness. "We remain committed to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, but this treaty can no longer protect us… The NPT has failed to protect us."

In a final note, the minister revealed plans to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, pointing to Tehran’s strategic alignment with Moscow. "I will meet with the Russian president tomorrow, and we have strategic partnerships with Russia," he said.

He also mentioned that both Russia and China are working to introduce a resolution at the UN Security Council aimed at halting the attacks on Iran, though he acknowledged, "the situation has now changed."

"US behavior is a threat that undermines international peace and security," he concluded.