According to a report by Iranian News Agency IRNA on Friday, Jan. 2, 2025, Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi, has declared that decades of military pressure and political hostility from the United States have failed to weaken Iran, arguing instead that genuine diplomacy grounded in mutual respect could allow both countries to move beyond long-standing confrontation.
In an opinion piece published on Jan. 1, Araqchi said recent developments in the Middle East have exposed what he described as the limits of force-based strategies and the dangers of U.S. policies shaped by unwavering support for Israel. According to him, the latest regional conflict has dismantled long-held assumptions about Israel’s military dominance and revealed the broader costs of confrontation for Washington and its allies.
The Iranian foreign minister argued that U.S. involvement in the conflict, encouraged by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, came at a heavy price not only for Israel but also for America’s standing in the region. He noted that growing numbers of Americans and U.S. partners in the Arab world now openly question whether Israel’s actions serve regional stability or instead fuel insecurity. “You’ll never defeat us in Iran, President Trump; but with real talks, we can both win” he said.
Araqchi maintained that narratives portraying Israel as militarily untouchable no longer align with reality. He said Iran’s size, population, and strategic depth ensured that much of the country remained unaffected by attacks, while Israeli society experienced widespread disruption. In his view, this shift has weakened what he described as Israel’s long-standing image of invulnerability.
Addressing Iran’s nuclear programme, Araqchi rejected claims that Tehran seeks nuclear weapons, insisting that Iran’s position is rooted in long-standing strategic, ethical, and religious principles. He argued that misinformation and exaggerated threats promoted by Israel and its supporters have driven unnecessary escalation and undermined diplomatic frameworks that once reduced tensions.
He criticized the U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear agreement, saying the “maximum pressure” campaign failed to force Iranian concessions and instead strengthened resistance. According to him, the collapse of that agreement demonstrated the consequences of abandoning diplomacy in favour of coercion.
Araqchi also pointed to growing regional opposition to Israeli actions, particularly following widespread destruction in Gaza and military operations across multiple countries. He argued that these developments have weakened earlier normalization initiatives and encouraged new forms of regional cooperation aimed at containing instability.
Despite the recent hostilities, the Iranian foreign minister said Tehran remains open to negotiations, provided talks are based on equality rather than imposed terms. He disclosed that several countries have expressed willingness to help facilitate dialogue and guarantee the implementation of any future agreement.
However, he cautioned that Iran would not accept negotiations framed as surrender. He stressed that restraint shown by Iran during recent tensions should not be mistaken for weakness, warning that patience has limits.
Araqchi concluded by stating that Iran will not relinquish its internationally recognized rights, including peaceful nuclear technology, and remains prepared for serious negotiations that include verifiable sanctions relief. He argued that a rare opportunity now exists for both sides to break a cycle of hostility, adding that true leadership lies in choosing diplomacy over perpetual confrontation.
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