Iran’s Dual Strategy: Extending Hand for Talks, Strengthening Defense

Tehran: At a time when the United States is further bolstering its military presence in the Middle East, Iran has conveyed a message that it is ready to reach a nuclear agreement with Washington. Senior Iranian officials made their stance public on Tuesday on this matter.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi stated on Tuesday that his country is committed to reaching a ‘just and fair’ agreement with the United States. On the social media platform X, he said, “Both sides have a historic opportunity to make an unprecedented agreement.” According to him, such an agreement would address the concerns of both parties and achieve common interests. He mentioned that if diplomacy is prioritized, an agreement is within reach.

Araghchi’s comments come ahead of the third round of indirect nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington, scheduled for Thursday in Geneva. Two rounds of indirect talks were held earlier this month, which focused on Iran’s nuclear program and the lifting of U.S. sanctions.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs, Majid Takht Ravanchi, also stated that he is ready to do ‘whatever necessary’ to reach a nuclear agreement with the United States. In an interview with NPR radio, he said, “We want to do whatever is necessary to make an agreement. We will enter the negotiating room in Geneva with complete honesty and goodwill.” Expressing hope, he added, “We hope that the American side will reciprocate our goodwill and good approach. If there is political will on all sides, an agreement can be reached soon.”

On the other hand, during a meeting with Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan in Tehran on the same day, Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh reiterated that his country is firm in its resolve for self-defense. He stated, “Iran is not seeking war, but if war is imposed on the country, we will strongly defend ourselves and teach the enemy an unforgettable lesson.”

This remark came after an exercise conducted by Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) on Iran’s southern coast. According to the semi-official Fars news agency, the Iranian military practiced a scenario of ‘strongly defending’ the country’s coasts and islands. The special forces of the IRGC Ground Forces conducted an operation to prevent the enemy from approaching Iran’s southern coast.

This exercise took place at a time when the U.S. military presence in the Middle East is continuously increasing. There have also been media reports that U.S. President Donald Trump is considering launching an attack on Iran.

According to Israeli media, eleven of the U.S. F-22 stealth fighter jets have landed at an airbase in southern Israel. This is part of Washington’s regional military reinforcement against Iran.

The world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, en route to the Middle East, has also arrived in the Mediterranean Sea. It will join the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group and other guided-missile destroyers stationed near Iran.

On Monday, Trump refuted media reports that claimed Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine had warned against attacking Iran. In a social media post, Trump said that if a decision is made to take military action against Iran, “in his (Caine’s) opinion, it will be easily won.”