Araqchi: Threats and pressure against the proud Iranian nation close the path to reconciliation

According to Ashura News, quoted by Mehr News Agency, Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araqchi released the text of his speech after canceling his speech at the Carnegie Endowment, which was supposed to be delivered virtually yesterday (Monday, May 1).

The text of the Foreign Minister’s speech states: “Since the purpose of this gathering is to discuss the future of non-proliferation efforts, I am confident that responsible policymakers understand very well that distancing themselves from dialogue and moving towards conflict will contribute to its collapse far more than it will help preserve the global non-proliferation regime. I would like to emphasize that I do not intend to enter into negotiations in public. My focus is on explaining Iran’s mindset and the goals that my country seeks to achieve. As one of the founders of the NPT Treaty in the 1960s, Iran has always adhered to the principles of universal access to peaceful nuclear technology and the rejection of nuclear weapons.” We are the only country on earth to have declared its official opposition to nuclear weapons on moral and religious grounds, and this opposition is expressed in a fatwa issued by the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution that such weapons are forbidden. Iran has also long been a staunch advocate for the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone (and more recently, a zone free of weapons of mass destruction) in the Middle East. In fact, we first proposed the idea in 1974 with Egypt. This goal remains a cornerstone of our foreign policy. For we firmly believe that the nuclear issue is a matter for peace in our region, not for pride.

Western countries have damaged the global non-proliferation regime with their double standards

By turning a blind eye to Israel’s nuclear arsenal and ignoring its refusal to join the NPT or accept IAEA monitoring, Western countries have damaged the global non-proliferation regime with their double standards. The year is 2025, and these double standards must end. Iran’s pursuit of peaceful nuclear energy also stems from its long-term priorities in line with its economic and development goals. In fact, these efforts began in the 1950s with the help of President Eisenhower’s Atoms for Peace program. With a population that once relied solely on large industries, diversifying energy sources is critical to ensuring economic resilience as well as environmental sustainability.

Iran Reiterates Commitment to Diplomacy

Unfortunately, our peaceful nuclear program has been misunderstood and distorted by misperceptions and politically motivated narratives. Such narratives have led to misguided policies and missed opportunities for meaningful diplomacy. However, I cautiously hope that this toxic trend may be about to change. The US President seems aware of the disastrous mistakes of previous administrations that have spent trillions of American taxpayer dollars in our region—without delivering anything for the United States. Iran has long shown that it is ready to engage with the United States on the basis of mutual respect and equal standing. This includes recognizing our rights as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), including the right to produce fuel for our nuclear power plants. We have also made it clear that we have nothing to hide; that is why Iran—as part of the 2015 nuclear deal—agreed to the most comprehensive inspection regime the world has ever seen. The US withdrawal from the JCPOA in 2018, followed by the reimposition of sanctions, disrupted this progress and undermined the trust that had been built. But despite these setbacks, Iran has once again demonstrated its commitment to diplomacy. To move forward, the foundations must be solid. Any negotiation is based on the principle of reasonable and fair compromise. Contrary to the claims of some influential groups, Iran has always adhered to its commitments.

Trump does not want a repeat of the JCPOA

In this speech, Araqchi emphasizes: Our actions speak for themselves: We have adhered to our commitment in the JCPOA not to pursue nuclear weapons, and this was recently publicly confirmed by the US Director of National Intelligence. Since we have adhered to our commitments even seven years after the US withdrawal from the JCPOA, Iran is trustworthy and will always adhere to what it signs. Those who claim otherwise are either ignorant or deliberately misleading. There are two other important misconceptions that need to be addressed. First, some influential groups are openly trying to influence the current diplomatic process between Iran and the US. Their effort includes making the false claim that the potential new deal will be the JCPOA. While the JCPOA was a significant achievement, I want to make it abundantly clear that many in Iran believe that the JCPOA no longer meets their needs. They want a new deal that protects Iran’s interests while addressing the concerns of all parties. I agree with that. I cannot speak for President Trump now, but given his past actions, it is safe to say that he does not want a repeat of the JCPOA either.

Iran’s Market Could Revive America’s Stagnant Nuclear Industry

Second, Iran has never been a barrier to economic and scientific cooperation with the United States. The main obstacle has been previous US administrations, often acting under the influence of vested interests. As I recently explained in the pages of the Washington Post, the trillion-dollar economic opportunity our country offers could be open to American companies. That includes companies that can help us generate clean electricity from non-hydrocarbon sources. Iran currently has only one operating reactor at the Bushehr nuclear power plant. Our long-term plan is to build at least 19 more reactors, meaning tens of billions of dollars in potential contracts are available. The Iranian market alone is large enough to revive America’s stagnant nuclear industry. Looking ahead, any agreement that may be reached must be based on securing Iran’s economic interests, along with a robust monitoring and verification program that assures that Iran’s nuclear program is peaceful. Only such an approach can bring long-term stability and trust. The scope of the negotiations must also be clear; the talks must focus solely on lifting sanctions and the nuclear issue. In a region as turbulent and unstable as ours, Iran will never negotiate its security.

Threats and pressure against the proud Iranian nation close the path to reconciliation

Equally important is respect for Iran’s civilizational past and its cultural and political identity, which our ancient history has created. The use of threats and pressure against the proud Iranian nation has proven ineffective for years and closes, not opens, the path to reconciliation. Constructive engagement based on mutual respect and equal standing will be much more effective in building trust and advancing dialogue. Last but not least, Iran should not be seen as an exception in the global non-proliferation framework. As a signatory to the NPT, Iran enjoys the same rights and is bound by the same obligations as other members. Respecting this principle of equality is essential to achieving a just and lasting solution. Moreover, if the global non-proliferation regime is to survive, all parties—especially the nuclear-weapon States—must live up to their commitments. Only through mutual accountability can we meet the immediate challenges ahead. Iran stands ready to play its part in building a safer region free from the threat of nuclear weapons.