Iran showed only a fraction of its power in war with Israel, now more prepared: FM Araghchi

Araghchi made the remarks in an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera Arabic, released on Saturday. He responded questions on various issues including Iran’s nuclear program, and the 12-day war which the US entered by bombing three Iranian nuclear sites on June 22.

“I think the whole world witnessed part of our power during the 12-day war. Despite the surprise attacks Israel carried out against us on the first day, we were able to respond immediately. In the early days, Mr. Trump tweeted that we should surrender unconditionally, but by the 12th day, it was they who proposed an unconditional ceasefire,” the top diplomat said, referring to the ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump.

“This shows that Iran is much stronger than they had imagined. In particular, the national unity and the people’s steadfast support for the government came as a major surprise to the world. We learned many lessons from that war in political, military, and economic fields, and I can say that if another war happens, we will be even more prepared,” Araghchi added.

The foreign minister also warned Israel that it would fail again if it launched a new war against Iran, arguing that the Islamic Republic has identified the enemy’s weak points during the 12-day confrontation.

“A failed experience leads only to another failure. The Israeli regime did not achieve any of its objectives in the 12-day war, and if it tries to repeat that failed experience, it will face the same outcome, especially that we are even better prepared. We have thoroughly identified both our own weaknesses and those of the enemy during the 12-day war, and we can now act with much greater strength.”

Araghchi added that the conflict proved Israel’s air defense system can be penetrated, noting that Iran also tested its missiles in real combat and now knows how to launch them with greater accuracy and power.

Iran does not seek war

The top Iranian diplomat said that during the 12-day war, his country made every effort to prevent the conflict from spilling over into the wider region, even as Israel tried to expand it to the Persian Gulf by attacking Iran’s oil and petrochemical facilities there.

“It is unclear what will happen in the future. We are not interested in war or its escalation. But we are facing a warmongering regime that is ready to drag the entire region into conflict,” he said, citing Israeli acts of aggression against Qatar, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen in recent months.

Araghchi also referred to the “Greater Israel” plans promoted by Israeli officials, saying they reveal the regime’s expansionist nature.

To confront this expansionist regime, “we must be prepared in every respect, militarily and diplomatically,” he added.

Israel main source of regional instability

The Iranian official further said that Iran has pursued a policy of good neighborliness over the past year, rapidly expanding its relations, especially in the Persian Gulf. He added that this policy continued after the 12-day war.

According to Araghchi, a major shift has occurred in the region, with countries now recognizing who the real enemy is. He said that previous propaganda portraying Iran as a threat has lost credibility.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, despite being a war criminal, has done one useful thing, Araghchi said. He has shown the entire region that Israel — not Iran or any other country — is the true source of hostility. “This understanding is now widely shared across the region,” he added.

Nuclear negotiations

The Iranian foreign minister said that his country is confident in the peaceful nature of its nuclear program and is ready to negotiate with any country to prove it.

He noted that Iran is prepared to address any concern or question regarding its nuclear activities within the framework of negotiations aimed at reaching an assuring and balanced solution.

That was exactly what happened in 2015, Araghchi said, when Iran reached a nuclear agreement with the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany—collectively known as the P5+1 group—referring to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which placed limits on Iran’s nuclear program in return for sanctions relief.

At that time, all parties were satisfied and the world welcomed the deal, but the United States violated the agreement without any justification, he added, referring to Washington’s unilateral withdrawal from the JCPOA in 2018.

“Currently, we are fully prepared for fair negotiations based on equality, mutual interests, and the win-win principle,” the top diplomat said.

He emphasized that an agreement on the nuclear issue remains possible, but that the United States is making excessive and unreasonable demands, setting conditions that “no wise person could accept.”

Commenting on those conditions, Araghchi said that Iran will never accept zero uranium enrichment, describing it as a major achievement attained by Iranian scientists after years of hard work.

“The 12-day war was imposed on Iran because of our enrichment activities and led to the martyrdom of more than 1,000 people,” he said. “Why should we accept zero enrichment? What they failed to achieve through war will not be achieved through negotiations either.”

“We will not negotiate with anyone over our missile capabilities. There is no reason to negotiate with others about our own security,” he added.

Araghchi also ruled out direct talks with the United States, arguing that indirect discussions could be productive if Washington acts seriously.

Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium

Araghchi said that Iran’s stockpile of 60-percent enriched uranium, weighing 400 kilograms, remains in the same location where it was prior to the 12-day war.

“We haven’t touched it since before the war. Most of it is under the rubble — in fact, almost all of it — and we have no intention of removing it until conditions allow,” he said. “We also don’t know how much of the 400 kilograms is intact and how much has been lost, and we won’t know until it is recovered from beneath the debris. It remains exactly where it was before the attack.”

On the damage caused by US airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities during the Israeli-waged war of aggression, Araghchi said that the destruction was extensive.

“The buildings were destroyed. Equipment and machinery were destroyed. But the technology has not been lost. Technology cannot be wiped out by bombs. Most importantly, our determination remains and has even grown stronger after the war,” the top diplomat noted. 

Iran’s foreign policy

Responding to a question on whether Iran’s foreign policy has shifted toward greater flexibility, Araghchi said there is no intention among the Iranian people to show leniency toward their enemies.

“The Iranian people are proud and honorable. They will never trade their independence and dignity for anything,” he said, adding that Iran remains committed to pursuing wise and constructive engagement with the world.

The minister noted that Iran is ready to engage with all countries, including the West, but emphasized that “negotiation is different from taking dictation or following orders.”

He said Iran’s priority is strengthening relations with its neighbors — a policy of good neighborliness that began from a position of strength and continues to expand after the June war.