Iran slams US strikes, says diplomacy ‘dead for now’
Iran foreign minister Abbas Araghchi leaves for Moscow for consultations with President Vladimir Putin
ISTANBUL, Türkiye (MNTV) — Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi launched a scathing denunciation of the United States on Sunday, declaring that diplomacy with Washington is “no longer relevant” after a wave of devastating U.S. airstrikes hit Iran’s nuclear sites earlier in the day.
Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the 51st Council of Foreign Ministers session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Araghchi warned that the strikes, ordered by former U.S. President Donald Trump, marked a turning point with grave and enduring consequences.
“The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences,” said Araghchi. “This is a grave violation of the UN Charter, international law, and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).”
The Iranian top diplomat accused Washington of dismantling diplomacy at a moment when negotiations were still underway.
“We were in the middle of talks with the United States when Israel blew it up. And again, we were in negotiations with Europeans just two days ago in Geneva when the Americans decided to strike,” he said.
“It was not Iran that walked away from diplomacy—this betrayal came from the US.”
Following the press conference, Araghchi announced that he would immediately travel to Moscow for consultations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Calling Russia a “strategic partner,” he emphasized Tehran’s intention to coordinate closely with all remaining signatories of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). “We always consult and align with each other,” he noted.
Araghchi insisted that Iran’s nuclear programme remains peaceful and described the US justification for the attack as fabricated. “Iran has done nothing wrong. We do not understand why Iran should be attacked for a false accusation that we are seeking nuclear weapons,” he said.
The foreign minister urged the international community to take a firm stance. “It’s up to the international community to condemn this and prevent further aggression. Otherwise, there will be nothing left of international law.”
Asked whether diplomacy was still possible, Araghchi replied bluntly, “Not right now. The door to diplomacy should always remain open, but this is not the case anymore. My country has been attacked and we must respond under our legitimate right to self-defense.”
He also targeted Trump’s political hypocrisy, accusing him of betraying not only Iran but also his own electorate.
“Trump was elected on a promise to end America’s costly forever wars. Today, he has reignited conflict, deceived his own voters, and abused Iran’s commitment to diplomacy.”
In response to a question about mediation, Araghchi confirmed “very productive meetings” with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and expressed openness to regional efforts to de-escalate.
“Countries like Türkiye have shown willingness to help prevent further attacks. We are initiating discussions to stop American aggression and Israeli provocations.”
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