SAEDNEWS: Iran’s Foreign Minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, said that the Supreme Leader is in good health and has suffered only minor, superficial injuries, stressing that the country’s leadership remains fully in control of the situation.
According to SAEDNEWS, Speaking in an interview with Al Jazeera, Araghchi addressed recent regional developments, Iran’s response to what he described as U.S. and Israeli aggression, and the broader consequences of the conflict across the Middle East.
Araghchi emphasized that Iran’s political system is built on strong and well‑established political, economic, and social institutions, noting that the presence or absence of any single individual does not undermine the stability of the system. While acknowledging the importance of influential figures, he said the resilience of Iran’s political structure ensures continuity under all circumstances.
Regarding Iran’s military response, Araghchi stated that Tehran did not limit its actions to official enemy bases. According to him, any location hosting U.S. forces or facilities was considered a legitimate target, even if some were near urban areas. He said responsibility for this lies with the United States, which he accused of relocating forces from military bases into civilian areas such as hotels.
He acknowledged that some neighboring countries and regional populations have been affected by the conflict and said Iran’s president apologized to the people of the region out of respect and concern for the hardships they are facing. Araghchi stressed that, in Iran’s view, apologizing is a sign of strength and dignity, not weakness.
Araghchi criticized U.S. President Donald Trump for interpreting the apology as a sign of defeat, arguing that such rhetoric undermined the possibility of creating a new regional atmosphere and damaged prospects for cooperation.
He repeatedly placed responsibility for the war on the United States, stating that Iran did not initiate the conflict and is only acting in self‑defense. According to Araghchi, the war is neither Iran’s war nor the American people’s war, but a conflict imposed on the region by Washington.
Addressing concerns about the expansion of the war, he said Iran did not seek escalation, but warned that when the U.S. attacks Iran, Tehran has no choice but to respond by targeting American military assets in the region, many of which are located in allied countries.
On the Strait of Hormuz, Araghchi said Iran will not allow its enemies to benefit from a waterway adjacent to its territory during wartime. He added that after the war ends, regional countries should develop a new framework or protocol to regulate safe and peaceful passage through the strait in a way that protects regional and Iranian interests.
He also blamed Israeli leadership and lobbying efforts for drawing the United States into the conflict, claiming that Washington itself lacks a clear final objective and has shifted between goals such as regime change, fragmentation of Iran, or unconditional surrender.
Araghchi reiterated that Iran does not believe in temporary ceasefires, arguing instead for a complete and permanent end to the war across all fronts in the region, including Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, and Iran. He said Iran is open to proposals that genuinely end the conflict and compensate for damages suffered by the country.
In a message to the American public, Araghchi said ordinary people in Iran, the region, and the United States are paying the human and economic costs of a war designed for Israel’s interests. He concluded by saying that the end of the war ultimately depends on the will of the American people to push their government toward a more rational path.
