08.02.2026 20:20
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that questions and doubts regarding Iran's nuclear program can only be resolved through diplomacy, saying, "There is no other way than negotiation." In response to the question, "Does Iran have an atomic bomb?" and referring to enriched uranium activities, Araghchi said, "No one can tell us that we should not have this just because they want it. This is the foundation of the path we have been following for years."
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke at the Congress on Iran's Foreign Policy and History of Foreign Relations held at the Political and International Studies Center in the capital Tehran.
"THE RIGHT TO ENRICHMENT BELONGS TO US AND IT IS OUR DECISION TO USE THIS RIGHT OR NOT"
In his speech, Araghchi made evaluations regarding Iran's nuclear program, the right to enrich uranium, the negotiation process with the United States, and Washington's military pressure in the region. Emphasizing that Iran has paid a high price for its nuclear program, Araghchi stated, "This price is compatible with the needs of the country. Enrichment and the nuclear program meet the needs in agriculture, health, and other areas. It is also essential in terms of future nuclear fuel needs and the goal of nuclear power plants. I view this issue in terms of independence and dignity. The reason we insist on enrichment and do not give up even if war is imposed is that no one can dictate to us what we should or should not have. This is based on the principle of rejecting domination. The right to enrichment belongs to us, and it is our decision to use this right or not," he said.
"NO ONE CAN TELL US 'YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS'"
Araghchi pointed out that they have been told for years, "You have no right to enrich, enrichment must be zero," stating, "They say they are concerned as a justification. If you have concerns, we are ready to address these concerns. If you have questions, we will answer them; if there is no trust, we will build trust. However, no one can tell us that we should not have this just because they want it. This is the foundation of the path we have followed for years. Enrichment was certainly important, but what was more important was to show that Iran does not take orders from anyone and does not accept the pressure of any power," he said.
"WE DID NOT SURRENDER IN THE 12-DAY WAR"
Stating that they won this resistance at a great cost, Araghchi said, "However, if we give up this right, the cost for the country would be much heavier. If we had not resisted in the 12-day war and had bowed to their demands, we would have written the perception in history that Iran could be subdued with two missiles and a few attacks when something is demanded and not given. The Iranian people's refusal to surrender was proven in the 12-day war. On the third day of the war, those who called for unconditional surrender sent a message for an unconditional ceasefire on the 12th day. Because we were not afraid and we resisted," he stated.
"MILITARY DEPLOYMENT DOES NOT SCARE US"
Araghchi said, "Today, their military deployment in our region does not scare us. We are people of both diplomacy and war. When I say we are people of war, I do not mean that we are pursuing war; on the contrary, we are ready for war so that no one dares to fight us. We are people of diplomacy because we have reason and something to say. If they choose the path of diplomacy, we will follow the same path. If they speak to the Iranian people with a language of respect, we will respond with respect; if they speak with a language of threat, we will respond in kind," he said.
"THERE IS NO WAY OTHER THAN NEGOTIATION"
Reiterating that they are ready to respond to any questions or doubts regarding Iran's peaceful nuclear program, Araghchi said, "We will eliminate uncertainties. The only way to do this is through diplomacy. Other methods have not yielded results. Therefore, there is no way other than negotiation. Negotiations will only yield results if the rights of the Iranian people are recognized, this right is respected, and we can exercise our rights. We do not want anyone to recognize our rights because our rights are official and already exist. We only want our rights to be respected," he said.
"OUR ATOMIC BOMB IS OUR ABILITY TO SAY NO"
Araghchi stated, "The foundation of Iran's power is its ability to resist tyranny and oppression. They are afraid of the nuclear bomb, while we are not pursuing a nuclear bomb. Our nuclear bomb is our ability to say no to great powers. Iran's true strength comes from this," he said.
"THE UNDERSTANDING OF PEACE THROUGH A HARD PATH"
In his speech, Araghchi also addressed the international order, stating, "We are faced with a new understanding that overturns all principles of international law and international relations. This understanding is the approach of achieving peace through force, which the U.S. President expressed as soon as he came to power. In other words, what they call peace is imposing what they want through the use of force. The U.S. has always tried to achieve its goals through the use of force. However, in the past, it tried to cover this up with legal justifications. The new U.S. President openly states, 'We are strong, and we should get what we want.' In this understanding, the strong win, and the weak are crushed. Therefore, there is no option other than being strong. For us, being strong is a necessity, and one of the most important elements of this is resistance," he stated.