TEHRAN: Iran’s newly appointed Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has said that the country’s new government will seek to “manage tensions” with its arch-enemy the United States to help reduce pressure and neutralize crippling sanctions.
Speaking on state television, Araqchi emphasized the need for Iran to manage its contentious relationship with Washington to ease the pressure of crippling sanctions.
Araqchi, a seasoned diplomat and key negotiator of the 2015 nuclear agreement, stressed that the primary goal of Iran’s foreign policy under the new administration is to “manage the tensions and hostilities” with the United States.
The Foreign Minister underscored the importance of reducing the costs and pressures associated with the ongoing antagonism between Tehran and Washington. “In foreign policy, we have a duty to reduce as much as possible the cost of this hostility and reduce its pressure on the nation,” Araqchi stated.
The US-Iran relationship has been fraught with conflict since 1980, following the Islamic revolution that led to the overthrow of Iran’s Western-backed Shah, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi.
The landmark 2015 nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was intended to provide Iran with sanctions relief in exchange for limiting its nuclear program. However, the agreement faltered after the United States unilaterally withdrew from it in 2018.
Araqchi criticized European countries for their recent policies towards Iran, describing them as “hostile.” He indicated that European nations would only regain priority in Iran’s foreign policy if they “abandon their wrong and hostile policies.”
Looking ahead, Araqchi highlighted that Iran’s foreign policy will focus on strengthening relationships with neighboring countries, as well as with African nations, China, and Russia. He emphasized the importance of building and maintaining alliances with these key partners to counterbalance the pressures from the West.
Araqchi reaffirmed Iran’s unwavering support for the “axis of resistance,” a coalition of armed groups across the Middle East that opposes Israel.
Araqchi’s appointment as Foreign Minister follows a parliamentary vote in favor of the new cabinet presented by President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Pezeshkian, a reformist leader, has advocated for a more open and engaging foreign policy approach. However, his cabinet has faced criticism from some reformist quarters for not including enough women in key positions.
Despite this, Pezeshkian recently appointed Shina Ansari as the vice president for the environment, marking the third woman to hold this position since the 1979 Islamic revolution.
