Iran will never bow to US bullying, threats: Araghchi

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Tehran will never submit to US bullying or respond to the language of force, pressure and threats.

Araghchi made the remark while speaking to reporters following a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Foreign Ministers in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan, on Friday.

Asked about his meetings with counterparts on the sideline of the event and whether any message has been carried, Araghchi said the issue between Iran and the United States is not the lack of mediation channels, but Washington's approach which is based on "bullying and coercion."

“Iran has shown that it will not bow to US bullying and will under no circumstances respond to the language of force, pressure, and threats," he emphasized.

He said it was natural to have discussions with Pakistan, which acts as a mediator, regarding initiatives and proposals.

He reiterated Iran’s commitment to pursue a principled policy, adding, “Protecting the Iranian people and protecting Iran's interests in the Strait of Hormuz are among our principles.”

"As long as the rightful objectives and demands of the Iranian people are not realized, we will naturally continue our path," he emphasized.

"We are not afraid of threats, nor will we succumb to pressure, and we do not tolerate the language of threats," he said.

e said Iran's armed forces on the battlefield and its diplomats on the diplomatic front are each carrying out their missions and their efforts are complementary.

Araghchi’s comments come as the US military has conducted air raids across the country for 13 consecutive nights, targeting civilian sites including bridges and water desalination plants. The attacks have killed 55 people and injured more than 640 others.

Iranian armed forces have retaliated against the aggression by targeting US-run bases in regional countries.

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Iran

Elsewhere in his remarks, Araghchi described the SCO as a "progressive organization" comprising major countries in the region.

He urged the SCO member states to confront the unilateral policies of the United States, the West and Western institutions which seek to impose their hegemonic policies on international relations.

The Iranian foreign minister noted that the discussions during the SCO meeting largely focused on ways to counter the unilateral policies of the United States and the West.

Araghchi added during his speech, he also addressed the US aggressive policies and its acts of aggression against Iran.

He further noted that consultations with Russia and China remain ongoing and continuous, saying Tehran regularly coordinates with Moscow and Beijing whenever there is an opportunity.

He added that he held “detailed” discussions with his Chinese and Russian counterparts Wang Yi and Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the meeting.

During his address to the SCO Foreign Ministers’ meeting, Araghchi called on the bloc to take a firm stand against unilateralism and defend the principles of international law, saying it should become a leading voice for multilateralism and respect for state sovereignty.

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