Araqji to Al Jazeera: We are ready for war more than ever before, and we do not trust the promises of the Israelis policy

Araqchi’s statements came in an episode of the interview program (11/2/2025), in which he talked about the recent war between Iran and Israel, the nuclear file, the complex relationship with the West, and his diplomatic career spanning more than 3 decades.

The minister explained that the recent war, which lasted 12 days, revealed Iran’s ability to wage a direct confrontation with Israel, noting that that war was a real test of Iranian missiles and defensive systems.

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He also said, “Iran gained great military and technical experience from the war, tested its missiles in a real battle, and proved that Israeli defense systems can be penetrated.”

He added that Iranian military preparations have reached an unprecedented level, expressing his conviction that “Israel will not dare to launch a new war, because it knows that the Iranian response will be devastating,” indicating at the same time that Tehran takes every possibility seriously, and that it expects any aggressive behavior from Israel.

Araqchi believed that the Israeli attack on the Iranian nuclear facilities did not achieve its goals, stressing that “the nuclear materials are still in place under the rubble of the facilities that were bombed,” despite his acknowledgment that his country suffered material and technical losses, but it “did not lose knowledge and experience,” which makes the Iranian nuclear program “standing and able to rise again.”

In reference to Tehran’s adherence to its right to enrich uranium, he said, “What is not taken by war cannot be granted by politics,” describing European countries’ activation of the trigger mechanism against Iran as an illegal measure that does not enjoy international consensus, stressing that his country will not stop uranium enrichment under any circumstances because it is a sovereign right that cannot be bargained for.

We are ready for fair negotiations

Regarding the nuclear negotiations, Araqchi stressed that Iran is ready for dialogue to dispel concerns about its nuclear program, provided that the negotiations are fair and balanced. He said that there is a possibility of reaching a fair agreement, but he accused the United States of setting “impossible and unacceptable conditions,” pointing out that it was Washington that withdrew from the 2015 agreement and created the current crisis.

The Iranian minister explained that his country does not want direct negotiations with the Americans, but it does not mind indirect negotiations through intermediaries.

He added, “The ball is not in Iran’s court, but rather in Washington’s court, which has not learned from its mistakes,” considering that “the maximum pressure policy has completely failed, and that any return to the negotiating table must be based on mutual respect.”

The Iranian minister stressed that his country will not negotiate regarding its missile program, stressing that “no sane country will accept the disarmament of its defensive weapons” and that Iran will not allow any party to dictate to it what is related to its national security, because “missile weapons are part of the deterrence system that protects the country’s sovereignty.”

Speaking about the European position, Araqchi criticized what he described as double standards in Western capitals, considering that Europe is “following the United States even though it realizes that pressure on Iran has not achieved any results.” He said that the Europeans have failed to implement their commitments within the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, and that confidence in the possibility of their commitment again has “decreased significantly.”

Araqchi spoke about UN Security Council Resolution No. 2231, which expired last October, noting that the expiration of the resolution means that his country is no longer bound by the restrictions imposed on its nuclear program, and that it is now moving within the framework of international law without anyone’s guardianship.

He added that Tehran believes that “the Israeli entity is experiencing a real existential crisis,” noting that the recent war has proven its military and political fragility, adding that Iran is not looking for war, but is prepared for it, and that “deterrence is the best way to avoid a clash, but if war is imposed, it will never be in Israel’s interest.”

American green light

The Iranian Foreign Minister considered that Israel “would not have started the war without an American green light,” noting that some Western powers “are still betting on weakening Iran through sanctions and threats,” but Tehran – according to him – has become “stronger and more cohesive politically and economically despite all the pressures.”

During the episode, Araqchi spoke about his long experience in nuclear negotiations, saying that he learned that politics “is not a battle to break bones, but rather an arena to test patience and diplomacy.”

He stated that he participated in the negotiating rounds from the era of former President Mohammad Khatami until the current government of Ebrahim Raisi, stressing that “the red lines have always been clear: no nuclear weapons” and that there is no abandonment of “the right to peaceful nuclear technology.”

Araqchi recalled his memories of his beginnings in diplomatic work, noting that he entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs a few years after the revolution, and worked as an assistant in the Iranian delegation to the United Nations, then as ambassador to Tokyo, before assuming the presidency of the Nuclear Negotiations Committee during the era of President Hassan Rouhani.

He said that his work in the diplomatic field during the past decades “revealed to him the true face of international politics,” adding that the major powers “are not looking for justice, but interests,” and that independent countries must rely on their own strength to impose their respect on others.

Araqchi stressed that the sanctions did not weaken Iran, but rather pushed it to rely on its own capabilities in the fields of industry, energy, and scientific research, noting that his country had passed the stage of economic dependency, and that it now possessed the elements of long-term steadfastness in the face of Western pressures.

The Iranian Foreign Minister expressed his conviction that “the future will belong to the voice of the people, not to the voice of force,” stressing that Iran will remain open to dialogue, but “it will not submit to blackmail or threats,” and that today it is “more prepared for war, and more confident in its ability to protect its interests from any possible aggression.”