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Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday reiterated that Tehran would not yield to pressure from the United States, saying the country would never respond to threats, coercion or intimidation while defending its national interests.
Speaking to reporters after the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers' meeting in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan, Araghchi said the primary obstacle to engagement between Tehran and Washington was not the absence of communication channels but what he described as the US policy of "bullying and coercion", according to Iran's state broadcaster Press TV.
"Iran has shown that it will not bow to US bullying and will under no circumstances respond to the language of force, pressure, and threats," Araghchi said, as quoted by Press TV.
Responding to a question on diplomatic contacts held on the sidelines of the SCO meeting, Araghchi said consultations with Pakistan, which has been acting as a mediator, were a natural part of the diplomatic process. He stressed that safeguarding the Iranian people and protecting the country's interests in the Strait of Hormuz remained among Tehran's core principles.
"So long as the legitimate demands and objectives of the Iranian people are not fulfilled, we will continue on our path," Araghchi said, adding that Iran neither feared threats nor accepted diplomacy conducted under pressure, according to Press TV.
The Iranian foreign minister also said the country's military and diplomatic establishments were working in tandem to protect national interests. He urged SCO member states to oppose unilateralism and what he described as attempts by the United States and its Western allies to dominate the international order.
During the summit, Araghchi held separate meetings with the foreign ministers of China, Russia, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Egypt and Uzbekistan, including what he described as "detailed" discussions with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
He said Tehran remained in close coordination with both Beijing and Moscow. In his address to the SCO, Araghchi called on member nations to defend international law and uphold the sovereignty of states, Press TV reported.
China backs Iran
On the sidelines of the SCO meeting, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reaffirmed Beijing's support for Iran's sovereignty, security and national dignity during talks with Araghchi.
According to a statement issued by China's Foreign Ministry, Wang expressed "deep concern" over the recent escalation in the Middle East and said the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, reached through multilateral mediation, reflected the aspirations of Iran and the wider region for peace and stability. He urged all parties not to abandon the agreement.
Wang also called for negotiations to continue and described returning to the consensus outlined in the memorandum as an "urgent task". He added that China would continue supporting mediation efforts led by Pakistan and other stakeholders, while encouraging dialogue and seeking a resolution to tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz.
For his part, Araghchi said Iran's readiness for negotiations remained unchanged and that Tehran had no desire for the conflict to continue. He expressed hope that China would continue playing a constructive role in reducing tensions and facilitating diplomatic engagement.
Escalating conflict
Araghchi's remarks came as military tensions between Iran and the United States continued to intensify.
According to Iran's Fars News Agency, US forces have carried out airstrikes inside Iran for 13 consecutive nights. The report, citing an informed official, claimed that American forces fired two missiles at an LPG tanker entering from the direction of the Sea of Oman after suspecting it was transporting Iranian gas.
Separately, Major General Abdollahi, commander of Iran's Khatam Al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, warned that Iran would target one American soldier for every Iranian killed, saying, "We have prepared free and direct tickets to hell for you."
Meanwhile, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Thursday its forces had successfully completed another round of strikes targeting Iranian military assets, marking the 13th straight night of operations. In response, the Iranian Army on Friday launched another wave of drone attacks under its ongoing "Operation Lightning", targeting US military bases in Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan.
(With inputs from ANI)
