Iran is ready for diplomacy, but ‘fully prepared to defend ourselves’: Araghchi

TEHRAN, Oct 21: Iran is ready for diplomacy but will defend itself, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote in an article published in the Financial Times on Wednesday. 

“While Iran is firmly committed to seeking a dignified peaceful resolution to the conflict, we are also fully prepared to defend ourselves,” he wrote.

He said the White House had shown no willingness to reach an understanding and that there was little reason to expect progress now.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says the US cannot expect dialogue with Iran while blockading and threatening it. 

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio tells US media that reaching a peace deal with Iran is extremely difficult and economic pressure will continue until Tehran stops targeting commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. 

Rockets target Al Rayyan Airport in the city of Mukalla and Aden international airport, as the Houthis say they fired a ballistic missile at the Badr camp in the southern Yemeni city.

Menwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has warned that any further escalation around the Strait of Hormuz or elsewhere in the Middle East could seriously endanger civilian lives, regional security and global economy.

In an article published in the Financial Times, Araghchi also revealed that Iran had submitted a seven-day proposal to the United States through mediators, outlining steps to end the war, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resume negotiations toward a final agreement.

Referring to his meetings with several foreign ministers on the sidelines of last month’s United Nations General Assembly, Araghchi said that although the discussions covered different issues, they conveyed a common message: Iran wants a fair and dignified agreement with the United States.

He said reaching such an agreement would require the White House to demonstrate genuine seriousness and resolve to permanently end its acts of aggression against Iran.

Araghchi stressed that Iran was firmly pursuing a peaceful and dignified solution to the conflict while remaining fully prepared to defend itself.�" AGENCIES