ISLAMABAD: Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Sunday that Tehran does not want the conflict with Israel to spread to neighboring countries unless forced to defend itself.
He emphasized that Iran’s recent responses have been strictly in self-defense against foreign aggression.
Araqchi stated that if such aggression were to stop, Iranian reactions would cease as well.
The minister condemned Israeli strikes on the South Pars offshore gas field, shared between Iran and Qatar, calling them a blatant act of aggression and extremely dangerous.
He warned that dragging the conflict into the Persian Gulf was a strategic mistake aimed at widening the war beyond Iranian borders.
Iranian Concerns Over Nuclear Talks
Araqchi accused Israel of trying to sabotage the ongoing Iran-U.S. nuclear negotiations.
These talks, which had the potential to lead to an agreement, were disrupted by the recent escalation and Israeli attacks.
Tehran was expected to present a new proposal during the sixth round of talks, but these were canceled due to the rising tensions.
He further alleged that Israel’s attacks would not have occurred without support and approval from the United States.
Araqchi criticized Washington for denying involvement and urged the U.S. to condemn Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites to show genuine goodwill.
Strategic Implications
The foreign minister highlighted the danger of expanding the conflict into the Persian Gulf, a vital region for global energy supplies.
He suggested that such escalation would only worsen the situation and increase regional instability.
Iran’s stance remains focused on defending its sovereignty without provoking wider conflict unless compelled.
