The Iranian Foreign Minister warned that Tehran had learned lessons from the Israeli and US war in June and is now better equipped for a future conflict.
“We are even more prepared than the previous war,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told the Economist in an interview on Wednesday, “Our missiles are in a better position, quantity-wise and quality-wise. We have learned many lessons during the 12-day war. We understood our weak points and our points of strength, and the Israelis’ weak points.”
Israel started an aggressive war with Iran last year that was later joined by the US. While the strikes did considerable damage to Tehran’s nuclear facilities, Iranian missiles became increasingly effective against Israeli and US air defenses. Additionally, Tel Aviv used a significant portion of its interceptors attempting to down incoming Iranian drones and missiles.
The Iranian Foreign Minister explained that an expanded relationship with Russia had improved the Islamic Republic’s readiness. “The Russians helped us a lot during the 12-day war, and after that, we have been engaged in more cooperation than before, and this is why I am telling you that we are even more prepared than the previous war,” he said.
Araghchi argued that Tehran is deepening ties with Russia and China in a response to American aggression. “Our policy has always been to have balanced relations with both East and West. We want to be a truly independent country, not relying on any other country whether in the West or East.” He continued, “But we have to acknowledge that it was the Western countries who actually made us understand that China and Russia are better friends than them.”
In the wide-ranging interview, the Iranian Foreign Minister also discussed potential negotiations with the US. Araghchi cast doubt on the Islamic Republic making a deal with President Donald Trump.
The US and Iran engaged in several rounds of talks earlier this year aimed at establishing a new nuclear agreement. Those negotiations were derailed when Israel bombed Iran.
The Foreign Minister pointed to Washington’s demand that Tehran agree to zero nuclear enrichment. “Well yes, you know, at that time, the US wanted zero enrichment, and I made it clear for Steve Witkoff that this is impossible,” he told the Economist.
Araghchi went on to say that Iran was not currently enriching uranium and did not have access to its stockpiles of enriched uranium due to the US and Israeli bombing in June. “No. All of our enriched material are under the rubble. They have not been recovered yet and we don’t have any intention to recover them before we come to that modality with the Agency,” he explained.
