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TEHRAN \u2013 Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has issued a stark warning regarding the potential consequences of any military strike on Iran\u2019s nuclear facilities, particularly if such an attack is carried out by the United States or Israel.<\/p>\n
Speaking to Al Jazeera Arabic during a visit to Qatar, Araghchi made it clear that any assault on Iran\u2019s nuclear infrastructure would trigger a full-scale regional war, one that neither regional actors nor global powers would wish to see unfold. \u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cIf Iran\u2019s nuclear facilities come under attack, the result will be a widespread war in the region\u2014an irreversible catastrophe,\u201d Araghchi stated on Friday. \u00a0<\/p>\n
The Iranian diplomat expressed skepticism that Washington would support such an operation, saying, \u201cI doubt the Americans will make such a major miscalculation.\u201d However, he made it abundantly clear that Tehran\u2019s response would be swift and decisive in the event of an attack. \u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cUnlike in the past, Iran will not delay its response. Our retaliation will be immediate and forceful,\u201d he warned. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Araghchi pointed to previous Iranian retaliatory operations\u2014True Promise I and II\u2014in which Iran successfully targeted Israeli strategic locations deep inside the occupied Palestinian territories with hundreds of ballistic and cruise missiles. These strikes, he noted, were conducted with precision after careful deliberation, considering both domestic and regional factors. \u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018Iran\u2019s nuclear capabilities beyond physical sites\u2019\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Despite concerns over a potential Israeli-American military strike, Araghchi downplayed the effectiveness of such an attack, insisting that Iran\u2019s nuclear capabilities are not limited to physical locations. \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0\u201cOur nuclear strength lies in the minds and knowledge of our scientists, not just in physical facilities,\u201d he emphasized. \u201cThis program cannot be destroyed by airstrikes.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n He also highlighted the highly secure and dispersed nature of Iran\u2019s nuclear infrastructure, stating, \u201cOur facilities are not concentrated in one or two locations; they are spread across many sites and are heavily fortified.\u201d<\/p>\n Moreover, he suggested that even sophisticated airstrikes would struggle to penetrate Iran\u2019s advanced defense systems, making a successful attack highly unlikely.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018Iran committed to nuclear weapons-free doctrine\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n Araghchi also reaffirmed Iran\u2019s commitment to a nuclear weapons-free doctrine, reiterating that Tehran has no intention of developing nuclear arms. \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0\u201cNuclear weapons have no place in Iran\u2019s military doctrine,\u201d he stated, citing a fatwa (religious decree) by Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei that forbids their development, possession, or use. \u00a0<\/p>\n However, he did acknowledge that Iran possesses the technical capability to build such weapons, but emphasized, \u201cThere is no political will to do so.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018Trust deficit remains in U.S.-Iran relations\u2019 \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n When asked about the potential for renewed negotiations between Iran and the United States, Araghchi painted a bleak picture of diplomatic trust. \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0\u201cThe history of U.S.-Iran relations is riddled with hostility and mistrust,\u201d he said, pointing to Washington\u2019s withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear agreement in 2018 and the assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in 2020 as key examples of American aggression. \u00a0<\/p>\n He also criticized the Biden administration\u2019s continuation of harsh economic sanctions.<\/p>\n Despite these challenges, Araghchi suggested that Washington *could take concrete steps to restore trust, such as unblocking Iran\u2019s frozen assets worldwide. \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cRebuilding trust is not easy. The U.S. needs to take real, positive actions, and they know exactly what those actions are,\u201d he added. \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018Resistance is not weakening\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n Turning to the broader West Asia, Araghchi addressed Israel\u2019s ongoing military actions against Palestinian and Lebanese Resistance groups, including Hezbollah and Hamas. \u00a0<\/p>\n He acknowledged the heavy losses suffered by these groups, including the martyrdom of Hezbollah\u2019s former Secretary-General Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah and several high-ranking commanders. However, he dismissed the notion that these setbacks would weaken the broader Resistance movement. \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe Resistance is not disappearing, nor is it weakening,\u201d he asserted. \u201cIf anything, these events have been valuable experiences, and I am certain they will prove useful in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n