Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. (X Screenshot)
Iran’s foreign minister dismissed responsibility for civilian deaths caused by Tehran’s regional attacks.
By World Israel News Staff
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that the Islamic Republic is preparing for a long war with the United States, contradicting statements from President Donald Trump that the current conflict may already be nearing its conclusion.
“I don’t think the question of talking with Americans or negotiation with the Americans once again would be on the table,” Araghchi told PBS NewsHour in a Monday interview.
Araghchi said Iran staunchly refuses to engage in talks with the U.S. after two surprise attacks that occurred while diplomatic negotiations were underway.
When Operation Epic Fury was launched in late February, Iran and the United States were engaged in talks aimed at reaching an agreement on Tehran’s nuclear program.
A previous round of conflict between Iran and Israel in June 2025 also erupted while Iran was involved in diplomatic discussions with both the United States and Europe.
Those developments have convinced Iranian leaders that negotiations are no longer a viable option, Araghchi said.
“This year, they tried to convince us that this time is different. They promised us that they don’t have any intention to attack us,” Araghchi said. “So I don’t think talking with Americans anymore would be on our agenda anymore.”
Araghchi vigorously defended Iran’s military actions, which have resulted in dozens of civilian deaths as Iranian missiles and explosive drones have struck civilian infrastructure, including airports and power stations, in multiple countries across the region.
“We have already warned everybody in the region that if the U.S. attacks us, since we cannot reach the American soil, we have to attack their bases in the region, their facilities, their installations, their assets,” Araghchi said.
Araghchi also dismissed responsibility for those casualties. Justifying Iran’s attacks on numerous countries in the region, he said that “these are the consequences, the consequence of the U.S. aggression against us. We are not responsible for that.”
“This is a war imposed on us. What we are doing is only defending ourselves. We are facing an act of aggression, which is absolutely illegal,” Araghchi claimed.
He insisted that Iran’s actions constitute legitimate self-defense.
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