Iran is ready to confront any aggression, and the country’s readiness to defend itself is higher than ever, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on Monday.
Speaking during a meeting with heads of diplomatic missions in Tehran, Araghchi stated that Iran “does not have a program to carry out preemptive strikes and does not seek war,” but is prepared to respond firmly to any threat to its security and sovereignty, emphasizing that Iran is ready for dialogue, as well as for war.
He asserted that the situation in the country “is not demonstrations but a terrorist war and a continuation of American-Israeli aggression,” highlighting the infiltration of armed terrorist groups into protests to divert them from their original course.
He said the protests initially were peaceful and lasted three days, noting that the government immediately began talks with traders and concerned parties, held direct dialogue with economic activists, and took measures, steps, and reforms in response to the peaceful demonstrations.
He added that the protests ended on the second and third days, but were resumed at the start of the year in what he described as an “armed terrorist” manner, with armed groups infiltrating demonstrations and carrying out terrorist attacks.
Araghchi said there is evidence that security forces came under fire with the aim of inflating the number of casualties, calling it “a demand of Trump,” and noted that Western countries, led by the United States, had previously dealt with violent protests at home through security measures.
He added that most of those killed in demonstrations were shot in the back, including security personnel.
Highlighting US double standards, he said a police officer in the United States killed a woman “who did nothing,” yet Trump defended the officer who killed her. While “he considers the killing of a young woman in his country as self-defense by police, but in Iran, he defends armed men who kill police officers,” Araghchi added.
He stressed that Iran “will exact revenge on anyone who stained their hands with the blood of the Iranian people,” adding that 70% of Iranians believe the cause of the protests is external dictates, while 30% see economic reasons.
The Iranian foreign minister emphasized that “the enemy’s calculations are wrong in transferring the equation of aggression to terrorist incitement inside Iran. He asserted that the Iranian security forces have brought the situation under control and that “the internet will return soon in coordination with security authorities.”
Araghchi concluded by pointing out that the West “sheds crocodile tears over terrorists in Iran” while it maintains silence on “the crimes of the Israeli entity in Gaza” and on “American-Israeli aggression against Iran,” stressing that Iran will legally pursue everyone who incited killing and planned terrorist operations against innocents in the country.
