Iran FM says war won't change Tehran's stance
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Tehran's stance remains firm despite US threats of renewed attacks.
Quick Look
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that renewed conflict with the US and Israel will not shift Tehran's policies, amid mounting threats from Washington following an unravelling April ceasefire.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
An April 8 ceasefire temporarily halted intense fighting between Iran and the US, but the subsequent peace accord unravelled.
Tehran: Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday that a potential resumption of war with Israel and the United States would not change his country's positions.
The remarks come amid mounting US and Israeli threats of renewed attacks on Iran, as President Donald Trump said on Friday that Washington "may do another little Epic Fury," referring to the US-Israeli campaign on Iran that began on February 28.
"Recently, there has been talk of a new war, but I am already thinking about the post-war period. Whether there is war or not, our policies remain the same," said Araghchi during a televised event in Tehran.
"They have already done so twice and have seen the results. If they want to try again, they know they will achieve no different outcome from those of the past."
An April 8 ceasefire between Iran and the United States put an end to the most intense fighting, apart from sporadic exchanges of fire in and around the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global energy supplies.
These military flare-ups have lulled in recent weeks.
Iran has claimed control over the strait since the outbreak of the war and has regularly targeted vessels that attempt crossing without its authorisation -- moves strongly opposed by Washington and countries in the region.
In response, the US has been maintaining a naval counter-blockade on Iranian ports.
In June, Iran agreed with the United States to a memorandum of understanding laying out a pathway to a permanent settlement of the conflict, only for the deal to later unravel as each side accused the other of violating it.
Tehran has since called for a return to the accord to end the conflict.
"The current war has changed everything. We must accept that new realities are taking hold. Shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz will no longer be the same, and the management of the strait will no longer be the same," said Araghchi.
"To achieve peace and stability, our region must move towards the complete absence of foreign forces."
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Continued sporadic clashes in the Strait of Hormuz
Likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- Will the US launch new military strikes against Iran?
- Can the Strait of Hormuz shipping routes be secured?