Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on Saturday that Iran will not negotiate over its missile program or its right to uranium enrichment, emphasizing that "what was not taken by war cannot be granted through politics."
In an interview, Araghchi said, "We are prepared for all scenarios and expect any aggressive behavior from the Zionist entity," adding that "Iran is more prepared on all levels, and the Israeli entity will suffer another defeat in any future war."
He continued: "We gained significant experience from our last war and tested our missiles in a real battle," stressing that "if the Zionist entity undertakes any hostile action, the consequences will be dire for it."
Araghchi affirmed that "the Zionist entity tried to expand the scope of the war in the region by targeting our oil facilities, but we managed the war effectively and prevented its expansion," noting that "Israel would not have launched a war on Iran without a green light from the United States."
He described Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a "war criminal" and said he "proved to the region that his entity is its true enemy."
Regarding Iran’s nuclear file, Araghchi stated, "We are ready to negotiate to alleviate concerns about our nuclear program, and we are confident in its peaceful nature," asserting that "a fair agreement is possible, but Washington has set unacceptable and unrealistic conditions."
He reiterated, "Iran will not negotiate over its missile program, and no rational actor would accept being stripped of its weapons," adding, "We cannot stop uranium enrichment, and what was not taken by war cannot be granted through politics."
In another part of the interview, he noted that Iran has no desire for direct negotiations with Washington, saying, "We can reach an agreement through indirect negotiations."
Regarding nuclear materials, Araghchi said, "The nuclear materials remain under the rubble of the bombed nuclear facilities and were not moved elsewhere," adding, "We suffered losses in buildings and nuclear equipment, but the technology remains intact."
On the activation of the snapback mechanism, he responded, "The Europeans’ activation of the snapback mechanism is illegal, and there is no international consensus on sanctions against us." He also emphasized that "Iran prioritizes strengthening relations with neighboring countries while remaining open to dealing with the West—without dictates."