"Nuclear Issue is an Excuse": Araghchi Claims Iranian Military Readiness Deters US
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi claims the nuclear dispute is an excuse for US hegemony and warns that military readiness deters war.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has sparked a fresh diplomatic firestorm, asserting that the United States' long-standing obsession with Tehran’s nuclear program is nothing more than an "excuse." In a revealing interview with Iraq's Al-Ikhbariya network, Araghchi argued that the real conflict stems from Washington's inability to accept Iranian ideology and its refusal to tolerate a power that challenges American hegemony in the Middle East.
The "Excuse" of Nuclear Ambitions
According to Araghchi, the nuclear dispute is a facade for a deeper ideological clash. He stated that the United States fundamentally rejects the Iranian perspective, which focuses on confronting American dominance and refusing to surrender to its power. Araghchi linked this defiant stance to the very emergence and formation of the "resistance" movements across the region.
The Foreign Minister also highlighted a history of perceived betrayal by Washington. He pointed out that Iran had previously honored the conditions of international agreements regarding its nuclear program—deals that were welcomed globally—only for the US to unilaterally abandon them without providing any justification. Araghchi noted that a similar pattern of withdrawal had occurred in Islamabad.
Military Readiness as a Shield
Despite the simmering tensions and military posturing, Araghchi expressed confidence that the US is well aware of the catastrophic costs of initiating a direct military conflict. He explicitly credited Iran's defense preparations as the primary reason the US has not launched a new war.
"Americans know very well that they cannot achieve any of their goals through war," Araghchi warned. "In my opinion, the main deterrent against the US starting a new war is precisely this complete readiness of Iran."
Trump’s Counter-Claims and Gas Prices
While Tehran emphasizes deterrence, former US President Donald Trump has offered a starkly different perspective. During a campaign rally in Kentucky, Trump expressed confidence that the conflict with Iran would conclude "very quickly." In a move linking international geopolitics to domestic economics, Trump promised supporters that fuel costs would plummet once these operations ended.
Trump defended previous military strikes against Iranian targets, describing them as a necessary "excursion" to cripple Tehran's nuclear capabilities. He asserted that the US "beat the shit out of them" during those operations and insisted that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons is a paramount national security priority, claiming that if Iran obtained such weapons, they would certainly use them.
The Path to Peace and IAEA Compliance
Adding to the diplomatic discourse, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh emphasized that lasting peace in the region can only be achieved if hostilities end across all fronts. He warned that continued fighting in any single area would only serve to prolong the wider conflict.
Khatibzadeh further asserted that Iran remains open to answering questions from the United States and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) regarding its peaceful nuclear program. He cited more than 15 IAEA reports as evidence that Iran has remained in compliance with international standards.
These escalating rhetorical exchanges come at a critical juncture, as both nations struggle with the implementation of a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in June, which was intended to bring an end to the hostilities between Tehran and Washington.