Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has issued a defiant response to President Trump’s recent warnings against retaliation, asserting that Iran holds a “legitimate right” to defend itself in the face of what it terms American aggression.
The exchange marks a sharp escalation in rhetoric between Washington and Tehran. Following threats from the U.S. administration that any retaliatory move by Iran would be met with force “never seen before,” Araghchi framed the situation not as provocation, but as survival.
“We are defending ourselves,” Araghchi said in a statement highlighting the deepening divide between the two nations. “And we have every legitimate right to defend ourselves.”
The Foreign Minister drew a clear distinction between the actions of the U.S. and those of the Islamic Republic, arguing that the narratives being pushed by Washington overlook the foundational right to sovereignty.
“What the United States is doing is an act of aggression. What we are doing is an act of self-defence,” Araghchi stated. “There are huge differences between these two.”
Araghchi directly addressed the American President, suggesting the responsibility for de-escalation lies with the U.S.
“So one should tell the President of the United States: do not attack, do not make any aggression against another country,” Araghchi said. “But nobody can tell us that we don’t have any right to defend ourselves. We are defending ourselves, whatever it takes.”
This latest diplomatic showdown follows a period of heightened friction in the Middle East. The U.S. has maintained a posture of “maximum pressure” toward Iran, while Tehran has gradually reduced its commitments to the 2015 nuclear deal and increased its regional military activity. #SECURITYNEWSALERT.COM
