Iran's stance against the development of nuclear weapons will not significantly change, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Al Jazeera on Wednesday (18 March), cautioning that the new supreme leader is yet to publicly express his view on the matter.
Araghchi said Gulf countries would have to draft a new protocol for the Strait of Hormuz after the war ends. He added that safe passage must be ensured under conditions aligned with Iranian and regional interests.
Iran shut the vital energy gateway, through which a fifth of global oil and liquefied gas passes, saying it "won't even allow a litre of oil" to reach the U.S., Israel and their partners.
Speaker of the Iranian parliament Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf had also earlier tweeted that the strait’s situation will not return to its pre-war conditions.
The U.S. has sought to build a naval coalition to escort vessels navigating the strait, with most NATO allies refusing to get involved in military operations against Iran.
NATO-member France said it would only consider a joint international coalition to secure passage through the strait following a ceasefire and prior negotiations with Tehran.
Araghchi added that an end to the war was only conceivable if the conflict is permanently over throughout the region and Iran receives compensation for damages incurred.
Asked about Iranian strikes in the Gulf not only targeting U.S. military bases but also impacting residential or commercial areas, Iran's foreign minister said this was because U.S. forces relocated to urban areas.
"Wherever there were American forces gathering, wherever there were facilities belonging to them, they were targeted. It is possible some of these places were near urban areas," the top Iranian diplomat said.
Araghchi acknowledged that regional countries are "upset and their people have been harmed or bothered" by Iranian strikes, but added that the blame lay entirely with the U.S. for starting the war on 28 February.
A top security official in Donald Trump’s administration has resigned, saying Iran posed no imminent threat to the United States...
More than 400 people were reportedly killed after a Pakistani airstrike hit a drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabu...
China has announced it will provide emergency humanitarian assistance to Iran, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq, as a widening conflict in the Middle East ...
Azerbaijan has dispatched a fresh shipment of humanitarian aid to neighbouring Iran, in what officials describe as a continued effort to suppo...
A Kyrgyz investigation has linked more than $45m in losses at state oil firm Kyrgyzneftegaz between 2021 and 2025 to intermediary schemes allegedly...
A top security official in Donald Trump’s administration has resigned, saying Iran posed no imminent threat to the United States, as tensions escalate with Tehran vowing a “decisive” response to the killing of security chief Ali Larijani in overnight Israeli strikes.
China has announced it will provide emergency humanitarian assistance to Iran, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq, as a widening conflict in the Middle East drives increasing civilian suffering and displacement across the region.
Azerbaijan has dispatched a fresh shipment of humanitarian aid to neighbouring Iran, in what officials describe as a continued effort to support a “friendly nation” during a period of need.
When a NATO-led coalition helped to overthrow Muhammar Qaddafi’s dictatorship in Libya in 2011, it looked like the sun had risen on a new era. But within years, the nation was gripped by a second civil war, declining living standards and collapsing institutions. Could Iran follow suit?
The other evening, I was fuelling my car at a petrol station in Kenya’s capital. It was one of those small moments most motorists barely notice. The attendant filled the tank, I glanced at the pump price, paid, and drove off.
Morocco has been declared winners of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and Senegal stripped of their title by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
President Donald Trump said NATO is making a “very foolish mistake” by refusing to help the U.S. as Israel Katz claimed Ali Larijani was killed in Israeli strikes.
Kouri Richins, a U.S. woman who penned a children’s book about bereavement after the death of her husband has been found guilty of killing him.
Polish fighter jets intercepted a Russian reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea on Friday (13 March), according to Poland’s Operational Command.
A top security official in Donald Trump’s administration has resigned, saying Iran posed no imminent threat to the United States, as tensions escalate with Tehran vowing a “decisive” response to the killing of security chief Ali Larijani in overnight Israeli strikes.
More than 400 people were reportedly killed after a Pakistani airstrike hit a drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul on Monday evening, prompting concern from the United Nations, the European Union and international aid organisations.
China has announced it will provide emergency humanitarian assistance to Iran, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq, as a widening conflict in the Middle East drives increasing civilian suffering and displacement across the region.
Azerbaijan has dispatched a fresh shipment of humanitarian aid to neighbouring Iran, in what officials describe as a continued effort to support a “friendly nation” during a period of need.
A Kyrgyz investigation has linked more than $45m in losses at state oil firm Kyrgyzneftegaz between 2021 and 2025 to intermediary schemes allegedly tied to the circle of former security chief Kamchybek Tashiev.
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