Seyed Abbas Araghchi (Iran) on Strait of Hormuz - Security Council Media Stakeout Media Stakeouts Date: 25 September 2026 Language: Floor (Original) Transcript: https://transcripts.un.org/en/asset/k13/k13ffsh429?lang=floor Transcripts available through this tool are created by using automatic speech recognition and are not official records nor official documents of the United Nations. Official records and official documents are available on the Official Document System of the United Nations. --- Iran (Islamic Republic of) [0:01]: Bismillahirrahmanirrahim. Good afternoon everyone. And thank you for being here with me. Well, I would like to make a statement on the position of the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding the ongoing situation, particularly the situation in and around the Strait of Hormuz. I will not be taking questions, unfortunately. As my statement, I believe will address the relevant issues and convey Iran's position clearly. First, on US aggression, and its ongoing unlawful measures. The Islamic Republic of Iran reiterates its steadfast commitment to international law, the UN Charter and diplomacy. This commitment was demonstrated through the negotiations that concluded in the JCPOA, its implementation and Iran's continued efforts to pursue diplomacy over the past two years. even while facing US Israeli acts of aggression. The United States choose the opposite path aggression, threats, assassination, economic war, warfare and the blatant disregard for international law and the UN charter. During the US Israeli aggression against Iran, more than 5000 people have been killed. including hundreds of women and children. They committed a grave crime and a flagrant violation of international law by assassinating Iran's supreme leader, along with other senior political and military officials. Residential areas, schools, hospitals, energy facilities, sports facilities, cultural sites, transport infrastructure, and other civilian objects have been struck. The massacre of more than 168 students and teachers in Minob, the cluster munition attack on La Merde Stadium, the bombing of residential homes in Gesh with £2,000 bombs, and the missile attack on a wedding ceremony in in in Syric, are only some of the documented examples. Yet from the podium of the General Assembly, the US president, along with the criminal prime minister of Israel, attempted attempted to destroy to distort the facts and reverse the rules of victim and aggressor. The United States and and the Israeli regime cannot whitewash their criminal acts, against the people of Iran. The United States is now weaponizing economic deprivation as an instrument of collective punishment and political coercion. It is deliberately inflicting grave and foreseeable harm on the Iranian people and directly violating their fundamental rights, including their rights to life, health, medicine, and food. This is not diplomacy. It is coercion and economic terrorism. This constitutes a flagrant and direct violation of the binding provisional measures ordered by the ICJ on 3rd October 2018. Second, on Iran's peaceful nuclear program. The renewed allegations concerning Iran's peaceful nuclear program are or political, not a substitute for technical and legal assessment. The allegation that Iran is on the verge of acquiring a nuclear weapon is a big lie. The allegation that Iran is on the verge of acquiring a nuclear weapon is a big lie, first concocted by Israeli in 2003. And the United States and European countries have been parroting it ever since. Iran has been a faithful party to the NPT since 1970, and has been subject to extensive IAEA monitoring for decades. The United States cannot credibly claim to defend non proliferation while attacking IAEA safeguarded peaceful nuclear facilities in clear violations. violation of its of its international obligations. Third, on the situation in and around the Strait of Hormuz, Iran remains committed to safe and secure navigation. But maritime security cannot be restored through further military actions, threats, blockade, or economic coercion. Until 28th February 2026, the strait was open. The insecurity prevailing in the strait of Hormuz and the disruption of maritime navigation are the direct result of the aggressive actions of the United States, and the Israeli regime. You cannot bomb the country, threaten its annihilation, impose a maritime blockade and coercive measures, and expect a automatic restoration of security and navigation. Responsibility also rests squarely with those regional states that, in flagrant disregard of the principles of good neighbor neighborhood, neighbor of good neighborliness, and in violation of their international obligations under the UN charter, enabled and facilitated the aggression by opening their territory, military bases, airspace, and logistical and intelligence infrastructure to the aggressors. And fourth, on MOU and way forward. Following the good offices of Pakistan, and Qatar, Iran and the United States signed Islamabad MOU on 17th June. Under paragraph five, Iran undertook to make the necessary arrangements to facilitate the safe movement of vessels. Iran immediately began technical discussions with the Sultanate of Oman aimed at implementing that commitment and restoring maritime traffic to its pre war level. Within two weeks after MOU implementation, maritime traffic had recovered to approximately 60% of its pre war level. However, subsequent unilateral US measures and its military action violated and blocked the implementation of the of the memorandum. Instead of using the dispute resolution mechanism envisaged in the memorandum, the United States resorted to military aggression. Iran has kept the door to diplomacy open. Over the past two years, Iran has engaged in negotiations in good faith continuously. Yet on each occasion, the United States responded in bad faith, resorting to military aggression rather than diplomacy. These these experiences have created deep distrust about renewed negotiations without credible assurances against a repetition of such actions. Iran has therefore made its, position clear. Iran has conveyed to the United States, through Qatar, a concrete seven day plan. If the necessary conditions are met, the estrade can be reopened, a normal maritime passage restored within seven days. The choice now rests with the United States. Iran does not accept coercion, threat or intimidation, and Iran will not surrender its sovereign rights under pressure. The United the United States was created to prevent The charter is not optional. Sovereignty is not conditional. Diplomacy is not surrender. And peace cannot be built through threats of annihiliation. And thank you for your kind attention. Journalist [8:47]: Sir, when will you get Sorry, I can't hear you like this. Did the seven day timeline start, sir? Iran (Islamic Republic of) [8:53]: The seven day timeline will start as soon as the United States accepts this plan. Journalist [9:00]: When are you? So if If they accept Iran (Islamic Republic of) [9:02]: This plan tomorrow, the the seven day would start from tomorrow. There are certain Journalist [9:09]: There are certain Iran (Islamic Republic of) [9:12]: Actions to be taken by the United States. And we believe that these actions can be taken in 4 or 5 days. So in day six, the strait will be open. And on day seven, the talks with the with the US will be started for the final deal on mutually agreed subjects. Journalist [9:34]: All those the Iran (Islamic Republic of) [9:35]: The actions that the United States should should take are, not new. They are all already in the MOU. They are already under the commitments of the United States, so we don't see any difficulty to implement them. So I can tell you if there is seriousness in the US side to come to a deal and reopen the Strait of Hormone, every everything is now prepared. They can accept this seven day plan and at the end of which the strait will be open. Thank you Journalist [10:15]: So much.