FM: Independence a 'conscious choice' for which Iran pays price

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Iran, under the Islamic Republic, has made a "conscious choice" to preserve its independence, for which it is paying the price.  

In an op-ed on Persian-language Ettela'at daily Wednesday, Araghchi touched on the "chaotic atmosphere" marked by US President Donald Trump’s disastrous Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last week.

"One of the key messages of this controversy is the shift in Ukraine’s position in the power equation. In the early days of the war, Zelensky relied more than ever on Western aid. But today, in the heart of the White House, he stands before the US president and delivers a sharp response," he wrote. 

"This is a sign that even countries that have enjoyed Washington’s support for years are no longer willing to be looked down upon. Ukraine, whether as an independent actor or as a pawn on the chessboard of global powers, has now shown that even small allies pay a price for their dignity and standing." 

Iran, Araghchi wrote, is "carefully and prudently scrutinizing the turmoil in international politics which is always detrimental to global stability and security".

"Unlike many actors who are engaged in verbal tensions and quick-tempered policies, Iran has always emphasized principles centered on independence, mutual respect, and avoiding engaging in unconstructive discourses.

"But Iran's independence is not an accident or the result of imposed circumstances; rather, it has been a conscious choice, a strategic decision, and an unchangeable principle in the country's foreign policy," the minister added.

Unlike some countries that have sought their security and stability in dependence on foreign powers, Araghchi wrote, Iran has long understood that dependence will only lead to instability and loss of national sovereignty.

"Real security does not come from the support of extra-regional powers, but from domestic capability, reliance on national capacities, and reliance on the people," he said.

"Hence, Iran has chosen a different path; a path in which the fate of the country does not depend on the decisions of others, and policies are shaped based on national interests, not in the shadow of foreign advice."

Preserving independence, however, comes at a price that Iran has always paid for, Araghchi said.

"From the early days of the Islamic Revolution, economic pressures, sanctions, military threats, and proxy wars were all designed to turn Iran into a subordinate actor in the international system," he said.

But against the predictions of ill-wishers, Iran stood firm and showed that it not only does not give in to pressure, but also continues its path of development and progress by relying on its domestic capacities, Araghchi said.

"This conscious choice has become a principle: Iran does not buy its security, but builds it. We do not depend on others to support us, but rather, we defend ourselves by relying on domestic knowledge, power, and capacities." 

Araghchi said history has shown that governments which have set their policies in the hope of security guarantees from big powers have fallen victim to the changing priorities of their patronizing powers at critical critical junctures and been left alone.

"Iran has learned this historical lesson well. Independence is not just a slogan, but an inevitable necessity," he said.

This view in foreign policy has led Iran to be neither swayed by foreign promises nor by the threats of its enemies, Araghchi added.

Iran, he said, relies on domestic power, independent progress, and resistance to external pressures.

"In a world where powers are engaged in disputes and shaky competitions all the time, Iran, with stability in its policies, has shown that dependence on others is not only a danger, but also a strategic mistake.

"This is the lesson that history has taught us time and again, and we have not only preserved it, but will also pass it on to future generations," he added.

Araghchi said the dispute at the White House was not just an ordinary row, adding it revealed the “deep rifts” emerging within the world order. It symbolizes strategic doubts, diplomatic uncertainties, and unresolved differences within the Western bloc.

"One of the big questions is, 'Will the continent remain united in its support for Ukraine? ... France, Germany, and other European allies have taken a more cautious stance on the war in Ukraine from the start," he said.

"Differences in defense and security policies have been there from the start. Now, with the verbal spat between the White House and Zelensky, those differences are clearly visible.

"Europeans, who have been more cautious about developments in Eastern Europe from the start, are now faced with a new question: Does Washington still have the strength and will to lead a united front in the West?" he added.

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As for Russia, Araghchi said, the Ukraine war has provided it with an opportunity to develop a different perspective towards international alliances free of the US.

“The war in Ukraine as well as latest developments have provided an opportunity for Russia to design its game more carefully on various fronts. On the one hand, Russia's strategic cooperation with China is expanding, and on the other hand, the Kremlin is trying to change the balance of power at the international level by strengthening its relations with developing countries,” he said.

“Increased economic interactions with the BRICS countries, expanded security cooperation with regional partners, and efforts to reduce dependence on the Western financial system are indicative of Moscow's approach to global developments.”

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