Araghchi: Closing Strait of Hormuz not Iran’s official policy

TEHRAN (Iran News)  Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has stressed that closing the Strait of Hormuz is not Iran’s official position, underlining that Tehran’s policy is to maintain peace and stability in the Persian Gulf.

Tehran’s official policy is “absolutely clear” in seeking peace and stability in the vital Persian Gulf waterway, Araghchi said in an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper during his visit to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to attend a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) foreign ministers.

“Iran is a producer and exporter of oil, and its economy depends heavily on it. That is why it wants free navigation for everyone,” he said

Araghchi emphasized that recent developments in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and the Israeli-US assault against Iran exposed to the region who their real enemy is.

“I believe everyone now realizes that the entity threatening the whole region and seeking to keep it weak and divided is the Zionist entity,” he said.

Tehran ready for fair nuclear talks: Araghchi

Asked about the prospects of nuclear negotiations, Araghchi reaffirmed Iran’s readiness for “fair and just talks” regarding its nuclear program.

He said Tehran is currently engaged in discussions with the three major European powers – France, Britain, and Germany – as well as with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to establish a new framework for cooperation.

He said Iran is open to indirect talks with the United States, but ruled out direct negotiations.

Iran will only engage in indirect talks with the United States if Washington guarantees it will not carry out military attacks during the process, he noted.

“If they come to the table for fair negotiations built on mutual interests, that serves both sides. But if they believe they can achieve through negotiations what they failed to achieve through military strikes, then such talks will not happen.”

Reflecting on the 12-day Israeli-imposed war on Iran, Araghchi said both Israel and the United States failed to achieve their objectives.

“Iran resisted heroically and responded to the aggression. We continued our missile strikes on Israel until the last moment, while they thought they could stop them in 48 hours,” he said, warning that any repetition of such aggression would be met with an even stronger response.