Iran emerged stronger after war, world now sees Strait of Hormuz as our ‘nuclear bomb’: Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi | Today’s news
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran had emerged stronger from the recent conflict, saying the world now recognized the country’s ability to use the Strait of Hormuz as a strategic deterrent, while insisting Tehran’s nuclear program and uranium enrichment were “not for sale”.
In an interview with Iranian documentary filmmaker Javad Mogouyi published on July 19, Araghchi described the chaotic early days of the war, Iran’s contingency plans to protect its leadership and Tehran’s refusal to yield to military threats or diplomatic pressure.
‘We were cut off from everything’
Recalling the opening days of the conflict, Araghchi said Iranian officials had lost communication with each other and were trying to determine who had survived.
“I came to the State Department … and for about three days we were completely cut off from everything. We were just trying to find out who was alive and who was martyred.”
He said he had no confirmed information about the president during the first days of the war and did not meet him until three days after hostilities began.
“I saw the president for the first time three days after the war started,” Araghchi said, adding that his first high-level security meeting took place six days after the conflict in a safe place.
He also revealed that three participants in that meeting were later killed.
Iran had a contingency plan for a leadership attack
Araghchi revealed that Iran has prepared a contingency plan in case of an attack on Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
He was referring to an internal emergency protocol known as “Code 110”.
“Everyone knew what Code 110 meant: that if Code 110 happened, we would do a certain thing. It was written and approved, and the Leader himself saw it and confirmed it.”
He said a response plan was activated immediately and in an organized manner should such a scenario arise.
“That’s why it started right away and it started in a very systematic and organized way. It didn’t surprise us at all.”
“Our enrichment is not for sale”
Araqchi said Tehran would not abandon its uranium enrichment program in exchange for incentives or under military pressure, insisting Iran’s nuclear program was “not for sale.”
Araqchi said Iran rejected what he described as attempts to persuade the country to compromise on its nuclear program during talks before the recent 12-day war.
“You can’t threaten us or bribe us”
Araqchi said Iran’s negotiating position remained unchanged despite mounting international pressure.
“You can’t threaten or bribe us.
He claimed that before the 12-day conflict broke out, negotiators had offered incentives to the Islamic Republic in exchange for concessions.
“In the negotiations before the 12-day war, they came to bribe – not to bribe me, to bribe the Islamic Republic – saying we will do this and that, we will build this and that.”
The foreign minister said Iran rejected the proposals, saying the country’s uranium enrichment program entailed significant national costs.
“I told them there that our enrichment is not for sale.
Araqchi said Iran had endured years of sanctions and lost nuclear scientists as it continued its program.
“It’s something that people in Iran have endured sanctions for 20 years, scientists have shed their blood for – can we sell it?”
He also rejected offers to build infrastructure in exchange for curbs on Iran’s nuclear activities.
“You say you’re going to build me a power plant; what are you building?”
“No bribes and no threats”
Araqchi reiterated Tehran’s position, saying Iran will not change its nuclear policy due to external pressure.
“I said there: no bribes and no threats – you have to threaten someone who is afraid.
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“No change in our policies”
According to Araghchi, the conflict showed that Iran’s political system remained intact despite military pressure.
“Despite the war and despite all this, there has been and will be no change in the policies, principles and ideals of the Islamic Republic.”
He described it as one of the key messages Iran sent to the international community.
“Our atomic bomb is the Strait of Hormuz”
Araghchi argued that Iran had emerged from the conflict in a stronger strategic position and argued that foreign leaders recognized the country’s resilience.
“All the people and ministers we meet, friends and foes alike, say that Iran has come out of this war stronger.”
He added that Iran’s greatest strategic leverage is not a nuclear weapon, but its ability to influence maritime trade through the Strait of Hormuz.
“We just realized that your atomic bomb is the Strait of Hormuz… The world realized that Iran is strong. That might actually have been our greatest victory.”
The remarks come as tensions remain high between Tehran and Washington over security in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy shipping routes, following weeks of military exchanges and attacks on merchant vessels.
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