BY Rosemary
Iran’s foreign minister struck a defiant tone on Sunday, insisting that the country’s power rests in its willingness to resist pressure from global powers, even as Tehran cautiously reengages in negotiations with the United States over its nuclear program and faces renewed domestic unrest.
Speaking to diplomats gathered at a summit in Tehran, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi emphasized that Iran would not abandon what it considers its sovereign rights, including the ability to enrich uranium. His remarks underscored the difficult road ahead for talks with Washington, coming just days after indirect negotiations were held in Oman and amid heightened regional tensions following last summer’s brief but intense Iran-Israel conflict.
“I believe the secret of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s power lies in its ability to stand against bullying, domination and pressure,” Araghchi said. He framed Iran’s defiance as its ultimate strategic weapon, declaring that while critics accuse Tehran of seeking nuclear arms, its true strength lies in its capacity to reject demands from stronger nations. “They fear our atomic bomb, while we are not pursuing an atomic bomb,” he said. “Our atomic bomb is the power to say no to the great powers.”
Araghchi’s uncompromising language contrasted sharply with the more conciliatory tone adopted by President Masoud Pezeshkian, who described Friday’s talks in Oman as a positive development. Pezeshkian has presented dialogue as a path toward easing pressure on Iran’s economy and stabilizing its international standing, but Araghchi’s comments highlighted the internal balancing act between engagement and resistance that has long defined Iranian foreign policy.
The talks come against a backdrop of escalating military posturing by the United States. Washington recently repositioned the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, along with additional ships and warplanes, to the Middle East. U.S. officials have described the move as a signal of deterrence, intended both to pressure Tehran into an agreement and to ensure that American forces are prepared should diplomacy fail.
Tensions remain high following the 12-day Iran-Israel war in June, during which President Donald Trump ordered strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Those attacks, carried out amid a broader regional confrontation, reinforced Iranian suspicions about negotiating under military pressure — a concern Araghchi addressed directly.
Recalling previous diplomatic efforts, Araghchi warned that Iran had been targeted even while talks were underway. “After multiple rounds of negotiations, they attacked us in the midst of talks,” he said, suggesting that Tehran views American assurances with deep skepticism. “If you take a step back in negotiations, it is not clear how far it will go.”
The dispute over uranium enrichment remains at the heart of the standoff. Iran has long insisted that its nuclear program is peaceful, while Western governments and international inspectors have pointed to evidence that Tehran maintained an organized military nuclear program until 2003. In recent years, Iran enriched uranium to levels as high as 60 percent purity, a technical threshold that brings it close to weapons-grade material, which is generally considered to be around 90 percent. No other non-nuclear-armed state has reached such levels.
Iranian officials have periodically suggested that the country could pursue nuclear weapons if threatened, even as diplomats cite a religious ruling by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that prohibits the development of atomic bombs. Araghchi’s deliberate use of the term “atomic bomb” as a metaphor for political defiance appeared calculated, signaling resolve to both domestic and foreign audiences at a time of uncertainty.
President Pezeshkian, who authorized Araghchi to engage in talks with the United States after securing backing from Iran’s leadership, reiterated his support for diplomacy in a message posted online Sunday. He said the negotiations, facilitated by regional governments, marked progress and reaffirmed Iran’s stated preference for dialogue over confrontation. At the same time, he warned that Iran would not respond positively to threats or coercion, emphasizing that respect must be mutual.
For now, there is no clear timetable for a second round of talks, and it remains uncertain whether negotiations will gain momentum or stall under the weight of mistrust. Trump, speaking after the Oman meeting, offered little detail but suggested Iran was eager for an agreement, saying it “looks like they want to make a deal very badly.”
Even as diplomacy unfolds, the military dimension looms large. During the talks, the head of U.S. Central Command, Adm. Brad Cooper, was in Oman, a presence widely interpreted as a reminder of American military reach. After the negotiations, Cooper joined U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea, reinforcing the message that diplomacy is being pursued alongside a credible threat of force.
Araghchi’s remarks suggested that Iran is keenly aware of that pressure and determined not to be seen as negotiating from a position of weakness. As talks inch forward, Tehran appears intent on projecting resilience — even as economic strain, public discontent and the risk of renewed conflict continue to shape its choices.
Original article
Comments