Abbas Araghchi rules out any “military solution” between Iran and the United States

The head of Iranian diplomacy, Abbas Araghchi, declared on Sunday that there was no “military solution” to the conflict between Iran and the United States, at a time when talks between the two countries seemed to be at an impasse. “If our enemies once again choose the path of military confrontation, our response will be stronger than before, and we will defend ourselves with even greater force,” Araghchi declared before foreign ambassadors in Tehran.

“There is no military solution, nor any solution based on new sanctions,” he added in his speech, broadcast by state television. The minister made this statement at a time when diplomatic negotiations for a settlement of the regional conflict are stalling. The American news site Axios, citing three American officials, reported a meeting on Friday at Camp David of senior members of Donald Trump's cabinet to discuss next steps towards Iran and the situation in Yemen.

“Only negotiations based on justice and equity will make it possible to find a solution to put an end to this conflict and the illegal and unjust aggression against Iran,” argued Abbas Araghchi. American and Iranian officials met at the end of September in New York, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, before Iran proposed a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, at the heart of the conflict, within seven days, in exchange in particular for the lifting of American economic sanctions against it.

Donald Trump rejected this proposal, but left the door open to continuing indirect negotiations, without excluding the subsequent resumption of strikes on Iran. At the same time, Washington has strengthened its economic war against Tehran, imposing new sanctions against its air sector. On the ground, a lull has been observed in recent weeks: the United States has not struck Iran since September 1, even though ships are regularly targeted in the Strait of Hormuz.