Exclusive: Iran’s foreign minister meets with Fault Rhein to discuss nuclear standoff and diplomatic impasse.
In an exclusive and wide-ranging interview recorded in October for Al Jazeera’s documentary Fault Lines, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragushi told correspondent Hind Hassan that attacks by Israel and the United States in June had caused “significant damage” to Iran’s nuclear facilities, but insisted that its nuclear program would continue.
“You cannot eradicate technology by bombing,” he said, insisting that Iran’s scientific knowledge remained intact.
With Iran still locked in a standoff with the United States and refusing to restart negotiations while continuing to demand zero uranium enrichment, Europe’s snapback sanctions will undermine future cooperation with the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, and will cause Iran to reconsider how it cooperates going forward, Araghchi said.
“Diplomacy is our priority,” he said, but insisted Iran was ready to strike back if it were attacked again. Araghchi said that although Tehran “never trusts the United States as an honest negotiating partner,” Iran remains willing to engage diplomatically if both sides respect each other’s rights and pursue mutual benefits based on equality.
Published December 16, 2025
