Israel-Iran Conflict: Araghchi Says US Betrayed Diplomacy By Attacking, Says Will Meet Putin

Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said that the United States betrayed diplomatic routes for a solution by attacking Iran.

“We were already engaged in diplomacy. We were in the midst of talks with the United States when the Israelis disrupted them,” said Araghchi in a media briefing in Istanbul. “Again, just two days ago in Geneva, we were in negotiations with the Europeans. This time, it was the Americans who decided to sabotage the process.”

To Meet Putin

During the press conference, Araghchi said “I am going to Moscow this afternoon to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin and will have serious consultations.”

He further said that the Iranian armed forces are on full alert. When asked about closure of Hormuz Strait Mr. Araghchi said “A variety of options are available to Iran.”

No Room For Diplomacy

When asked whether there is still room for diplomacy after the US attack, Araghchi said “not right now”.

“The door for diplomacy should always stay open, but this is not the case right now,” he said in a media address in Istanbul. “My country has been under attack, under aggression, and we have to respond based on our legitimate right to self defense.”

The US attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, he said, “is an unforgivable violation of international law”.

Appeal To International Community To Counter US Threats

In his address to the media in Istanbul, Araghchi said it is the responsibility of the “whole international community” to stop US threats against Iran, insisting the country’s nuclear programme has remained entirely peaceful.

“Iran has done nothing wrong. We do not understand why Iran should be attacked for a false accusation that Iran is seeking nuclear weapons,” he said, noting that it was the US that tore up the previous nuclear agreement and interrupted the latest round of talks with military strikes.

“It’s up to the international community to condemn this, to prevent this,” Araghchi added. “Otherwise, there will be nothing left of international law.”

He claimed the Iranian people are “united and in solidarity with the government, and we stand firm against any aggression”.