Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Iran has won on both the battlefield and the diplomatic front during the recent US-Israeli aggression and the 12-day war, stressing that Iranian resistance ultimately forced the enemy to seek negotiations.
Speaking at a ceremony on Tuesday to sign a memorandum of understanding between the diplomatic corps and the health sector aimed at rebuilding infrastructure damaged during the recent conflict Araghchi drew parallels between the 12-day war and the eight-year Iran-Iraq war, hailing what he described as unprecedented scenes of courage and sacrifice by Iranians across all sectors.
The top diplomat emphasized that the coordinated efforts of Iranian men and women ensured the uninterrupted flow of daily life, safeguarding public access to health, hygiene, and medical services throughout the aggression.
“Iran rendered the world’s largest conventional army incapable and defeated it. This is not a slogan; it is a reality,” Araghchi stated, adding that the Islamic Republic has proven to the world that it remains a resilient and formidable force. He noted that he has repeatedly received praise from foreign ministers and international officials regarding Tehran’s performance, with many acknowledging that Iran surprised the global community by standing firm against the United States, Israel, Western nations, and their allies.
“Nobody thought Iran could resist in this way and ultimately force the enemy to ask for negotiations,” Araghchi remarked. He highlighted the dramatic shift in the adversary’s posture, pointing out that the same enemy which called for “unconditional surrender” on the first day of the war was, nearly 20 days later, actively seeking diplomatic engagement.
The foreign minister also underscored Iran’s adept handling of the diplomatic track, asserting that Tehran knew how to defend its national interests throughout the process. However, Araghchi firmly ruled out any new negotiations with the United States as long as Washington continues to violate the war-ending Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two sides.
“I also heard this from various officials, in these exact words: ‘You won both the war and diplomacy,'” Araghchi recounted, attributing the outcome to the sacrifices made by Iran’s medical and resistance sectors. “We brought ethics, we brought dignity, and we took pride in it,” he added.
The remarks come against the backdrop of two distinct rounds of unprovoked military assaults launched by the United States and ‘Israel’ against the Islamic Republic on June 13 and February 28 which lasted 12 and 40 days, respectively. In both instances, the Iranian Armed Forces successfully compelled the aggressors to request a truce, according to official accounts.
Source: Iranian media (edite dby Al-Manar)