Iran’s new FM urges dialogue with EU, claims ‘right’ to retaliate for Haniyeh killing
Ex-nuclear negotiator Abbas Araghchi speaks with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and his counterparts from France, UK; calls for ‘punishing’ Israel in phone call with them
Iran’s new foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, has called for dialogue with the European Union to resolve bilateral issues, following a phone call with the bloc’s top diplomat.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes the development of relations with the European Union in an environment based on mutual respect,” Araghchi said in a statement issued late Thursday.
Relations between the EU and Iran have deteriorated in recent years.
The bloc accuses Tehran of failing to rein in its nuclear activity, providing support to Palestinian terror group Hamas, backing Russia’s war in Ukraine, and committing human rights violations.
The development of relations “requires dialogue to resolve issues between the two parties and the correction of the misguided policies of European countries,” Araghchi said.
For his part, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on social media platform X that he had discussed “prospects for renewed engagement on all files of mutual interest” with his Iranian counterpart.
The discussion included the “need for de-escalation and restraint” as well as “halting military cooperation” with Russia against Ukraine and nuclear non-proliferation.
Borrell said such “critical dialogue” was “essential to defuse regional tensions.”
Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah threatened reprisals against Israel last month, after Israel’s assassination of Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut, and the killing hours later of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, for which Israel has neither claimed nor denied responsibility.
The killings were the latest development in a 10-month war that began on October 7 of last year, when thousands of Hamas-led terrorists burst into Israel from the Gaza Strip, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostages.
In addition to Borrell, Aragchi spoke Friday with his French and British counterparts, telling them Tehran has a right to retaliate against Israel for Haniyeh’s killing, the official IRNA news agency reported.
Araqchi was quoted as saying the assassination was “an unforgivable violation of Iran’s security and sovereignty,” adding: “Punishing the aggressor is Iran’s right.”
France’s Stephane Sejourne and Britain’s David Lammy had called to congratulate Araqchi on his appointment this week as Iran’s top diplomat.
“The Islamic Republic does not want to extend the war or raise regional tensions, but it will not deviate from its absolute right to respond to the terrorist act by the Zionist regime,” an Iranian foreign ministry statement quoted Araghchi as telling Lammy, referring to Israel.
A statement from the French foreign ministry said Sejourne urged Iran “to do everything to avoid a regional conflagration” that he said would be “in nobody’s interest.”
It said Sejourne insisted that Tehran urge members of Iran-backed groups in the region to “exercise the maximum restraint,” referring to Hamas, Hezbollah, Yemen’s Houthi rebels and Iraqi Shiite militias.
Lammy posted on X that he reiterated to Araghchi that “we must avoid any escalation in the Middle East.”
“Reaching a ceasefire deal, delivering more humanitarian aid into Gaza and securing the release of hostages is vital for regional stability,” Lammy said.
Araghchi, who took up his post on Wednesday, served as chief nuclear negotiator and played a key role in securing a 2015 agreement for Iran to curb its nuclear activity in return for an easing of sanctions.
That deal unraveled in 2018 when US president Donald Trump withdrew from it, leading Iran to increasingly breach its limitations. Efforts to revive it since 2022 have so far failed.
Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
