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strikeMay 15, 2026

Iran 'Never Wanted Nuclear Weapon', Says Araghchi; Open To Offer Safe Hormuz Passage

Summary

Iran has never pursued nuclear weapons and continues to believe diplomacy is the only way to resolve regional tensions, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Thursday amid the fragile ceasefire situation in West Asia. Speaking on the sidelines of the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting, Araghchi said Tehran was prepared to ensure safe maritime movement through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. “We are ready to help pass all vessels through the Strait of Hormuz,” he said, underlining Iran's commitment to regional stability and negotiated solutions over military confrontation. Describing the current situation as a “shaky ceasefire”, the Iranian minister asserted that conflicts involving Iran cannot be resolved militarily. “Diplomatic solution can be found. There's never a military solution to any aggression or pressure,” Araghchi said, adding that Iranians “answer only the language of respect”. ALSO READ: UAE Fast-Tracks Fujairah Oil Pipeline To Sidestep Hormuz Chokepoint He also accused the United States of repeatedly undermining trust despite ongoing diplomatic engagements. “We have every reason not to trust Americans,” he said. Referring to the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Araghchi said the agreement had once been celebrated globally before Washington withdrew under US President Donald Trump. “In June 2025, after five rounds of negotiations, they attacked us. This year again we had three rounds of negotiations and significant progress was claimed. Two days later, along with Israelis, they attacked us. So we cannot trust Americans,” he said. Araghchi maintained that negotiations would continue only if the other side showed seriousness. He also thanked External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar for remaining in touch during the conflict and appreciated India's solidarity with the Iranian people. Highlighting bilateral ties, he said India and Iran shared “ancient relations, old cultural values and great economic cooperation.” ALSO READ: Russia Sees India As Middle East Peace Catalyst: 'Can Make Iran, UAE Talk' Essential Business Intelligence, Continuous LIVE TV, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.

Perspectives

Iranian Official

Iran upholds its sovereign right to a peaceful nuclear program and rejects any foreign aggression aimed at undermining its independence, insisting that diplomacy alone can resolve tensions created by external interference. Despite repeated US betrayals of the JCPOA and unprovoked attacks following negotiations, Tehran remains committed to securing safe maritime transit through the Strait of Hormuz while defending against military threats. Iran answers only the language of respect and will continue resisting any attempts to compromise its sovereignty.

Israeli

Iran's denial of nuclear weapons ambitions, voiced by Foreign Minister Araghchi amid a fragile ceasefire, conceals Tehran's persistent drive toward a nuclear threshold that poses an existential threat to Israel. Offers to secure the Strait of Hormuz ring hollow against Iran's entrenched proxy networks and repeated violations of past accords like the JCPOA, which have only emboldened aggression. From Israel's perspective, such rhetoric underscores the defensive necessity of preemptive capabilities and deterrence to safeguard national survival.

Neutral

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on Thursday that Iran has never pursued nuclear weapons, views diplomacy as the only path to resolving regional tensions, and is prepared to ensure safe vessel passage through the Strait of Hormuz. He described the situation as a shaky ceasefire, asserted that conflicts involving Iran cannot be resolved militarily, and accused the United States of undermining trust, including through its withdrawal from the 2015 JCPOA. The remarks were made on the sidelines of the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting.

Western

Iran's renewed diplomatic overtures on the Strait of Hormuz come amid a fragile ceasefire, as Tehran seeks to project stability while advancing its nuclear capabilities. Western and NATO partners view these assurances with skepticism, prioritizing precision deterrence and sanctions to neutralize proliferation risks and secure vital maritime routes against potential Iranian leverage. Past U.S. withdrawals from the JCPOA underscore the need for verifiable commitments over repeated Iranian assertions.

Pro-Peace

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stressed that diplomacy remains the only viable path to easing West Asia’s fragile ceasefire, warning that military escalation inflicts devastating civilian casualties and deepens humanitarian crises across the region. He reaffirmed Tehran’s readiness to guarantee safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring that negotiated solutions protect lives and livelihoods far better than confrontation. Araghchi also cited repeated U.S. breaches of the JCPOA and recent strikes as reasons trust has eroded, insisting respect and talks—not aggression—must prevail to spare further suffering.

Global South

Iran's Foreign Minister reaffirmed Tehran's sovereign refusal to pursue nuclear weapons, insisting diplomacy remains the sole path to easing West Asian tensions amid a shaky ceasefire shaped by external military pressures. Araghchi offered to guarantee safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, while condemning US actions—from the JCPOA's unilateral abandonment to post-negotiation strikes—as classic neo-colonial interference that exposes the failure of Western-dominated institutions to respect Global South autonomy.

Actors involved

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Sources

  • Altaf HussainBy Altaf Hussain

    Iran has never pursued nuclear weapons and continues to believe diplomacy is the only way to resolve regional tensions, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Thursday amid the fragile ceasefire situation in West Asia. Speaking on the sidelines of the BRICS Foreign Minis…

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