Speaking at a press conference in Tehran, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says if Israeli attacks on his country stop, “our responses will also stop.”
Araghchi made the comment before diplomats in Tehran, his first public appearance since the Israeli strikes began on Friday.
“If the aggression stops, our responses will also stop,” Araghchi said.
There was no immediate reaction from Israel, which had been continuing strikes Sunday across Iran.
Abbas Araghchi said the US needs to condemn the Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Iran does not believe the US claim of not being involved in Israel’s attack on its Natanz nuclear facility, he added.
Iran does not want its conflict with Israel to expand to neighbouring countries unless the situation is forced, Araqchi said.
Iran’s military response against Israel has been based on self-defence, he added.
Araghchi has reaffirmed the country’s stance on nuclear weapons, saying that it is “our firm conviction not to possess a nuclear weapon.”
“Yet those who are willing to deprive Iran of our right to possess the nuclear programme for peaceful purposes, they have no right to do so,” he added.
Araghchi also said that in the now-cancelled sixth round of negotiations with the US that was scheduled for today, Iran was “prepared to provide the necessary assurances to the Americans.”
“The previous round of talks, the Americans presented a number of proposals, which were not totally acceptable to us. We presented our response and our viewpoints, and we were supposed to present a counterproposal. Our proposal could have opened doors for an all-out agreement with the Americans,” he said.
According to Araghchi, Israel opposes diplomatic progress between Iran and the US.
“This is a crystal-clear matter. The Zionist entity is not willing to see us reaching an agreement or a diplomatic solution with the United States,” he added.
Israel unleashed air strikes across Iran for a third day on Sunday and threatened even greater force as some Iranian missiles evaded Israeli air defences to destroy buildings in the heart of the country.
Iranian media say Israeli attacks have killed at least 80 people and wounded 800 others over the past two days. Those killed include 20 children.
Iran also launched missiles at targets across Israel, including near Haifa and Tel Aviv, killing at least 10 people, according to medics and media reports.
