Iran Determined to Continue Struggle
Washington — Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has affirmed that his country will continue to struggle amid attacks from the United States and Israel, asserting full rights to self-defence.
Araghchi, cited by Xinhua from ABC News on Sunday (1/3), stated that no country’s leader has the right to prevent Iran from responding to attacks directed against them. His comments were in response to US President Donald Trump’s assertion that Iran should not launch counter-attacks.
“Iran has just stated they will attack with great force today, harder than ever. THEY SHOULD NOT DO THIS, BECAUSE IF THEY DO, WE WILL ATTACK THEM WITH A FORCE NEVER SEEN BEFORE!” Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social, on Sunday (1/3).
In response, Araghchi told ABC News that no country’s leader has the right to make such statements.
“We are defending ourselves, and we have every right, a legitimate right, to defend ourselves. What we are doing is self-defence. There is a great difference between the two. We see no limitations on us defending our people, protecting our people,” Araghchi said.
When asked whether resolving matters through negotiations with the US remained possible, Araghchi expressed scepticism. He described previous US-Iran nuclear negotiations over recent years as a “very bitter experience” for Iran.
Araghchi continued, stating that Iran was attacked on Saturday (28/2) and also in June 2025, whilst diplomatic talks with the US were believed to be making progress by Iran.
He added that Israel and some of Trump’s advisers had “dragged” Trump into war despite peaceful settlement appearing potentially achievable following talks in Geneva on Thursday (26/2).
Regarding the scale of damage inflicted by US and Israeli attacks on Iran’s military infrastructure, Araghchi acknowledged that they had lost some commanders.
“We have lost some commanders, that is a fact, and their names have been announced. However, the other fact is that nothing has changed in our military capabilities,” Araghchi stated.
He emphasised that Iran was capable of launching counter-attacks even faster than it could in the previous 12-day conflict with Israel and the US in June 2025.
“Our military is ready. They are fully capable of defending our nation. More than that, they are more prepared and more capable compared to the previous war. They are in a better position and you have seen how they have acted so far,” Araghchi said.
The large-scale US-Israeli air offensive, which has killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, entered its second day on Sunday (1/3).
Trump stated that 48 senior Iranian officials were killed in the operation and that US forces had sunk nine Iranian warships and destroyed most of Iran’s naval command headquarters.
The US Central Command stated through social media on Sunday that three US military personnel were killed and five others seriously wounded in the US military operation against Iran.