Speech by His Excellency Araghchi Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Tehran Dialogue Forum

Speech by His Excellency Araghchi Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Tehran Dialogue Forum 18 May 2025

In the Name of God

Your Excellency Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, Honorable President of the Islamic Republic of Iran;
Esteemed Ministers of Foreign Affairs;

Excellencies;
Distinguished Guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen, 

It is a profound honor to address this distinguished and erudite gathering. I extend my heartfelt appreciation to all of you for your valued presence—particularly to His Excellency Dr. Pezeshkian, the esteemed President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, whose development-oriented vision has breathed new life into Iran’s diplomacy and into regional engagement.

At the outset, I wish to commemorate the memory of my dear friend and long-time colleague, the late and martyred Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, whose passing—alongside that of Martyr President Raisi and their companions—we mark with sorrow and reverence in these days.

I also extend my sincere gratitude to my colleagues at the Institute for Political and International Studies for their tireless efforts in organizing this important forum.

Allow me to begin with a reflection on the events of the past year—a year tragically marked by catastrophic incidents and profound humanitarian suffering. At the forefront of these tragedies stand the brutal assaults and atrocities committed by the Zionist regime in Gaza—crimes that, without a doubt, constitute one of the most flagrant and unprecedented cases of genocide in modern memory. A genocide that was not merely documented but broadcast in real time—on television screens and across social media—before the stunned eyes of a watching world. 

Since October 2023, over sixty thousand Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have lost their lives—many of them women and children. Millions have been displaced, forced into siege conditions, and deliberately subjected to starvation and famine. What is even more distressing is the world’s failure to respond with the responsibility and urgency that such atrocities demand. The deafening silence and passivity of powers that claim to defend the "conscience of humanity"—alongside the paralysis of international institutions—are profoundly disturbing and must be seen as a global wake-up call.

What has crumbled before our very eyes is the architecture of the moral, legal, and political covenants that were meant to uphold the international order. What we are witnessing is the disintegration of the very foundations of collective responsibility—toward peace, human dignity, and a shared global conscience.

It is evident that such a state of affairs cannot be sustained.

Esteemed guests,

The crisis in Gaza has once again exposed the deep incapacity of the current international system and reaffirmed a crucial truth: the fate of our region cannot and must not be left to the decisions and interests of extra-regional powers. What is currently presented today as “regional reality” by external actors is, in fact, the product of manufactured narratives—designed to serve their strategic interests. These imposed narratives must now be redefined and restructured from within the region itself.

West Asia is in urgent need of a fundamental reassessment of its self-perception. Years of fixation on manufactured rivalries— often fueled by the illusion of perpetual threats—have stymied meaningful cooperation, obstructed the resolution of common challenges, and opened the door to destabilizing foreign interference.

The time has come to overcome this imposed and manufactured pseudo-reality and, instead, lay the foundation for a genuine, homegrown regional order—one built on dialogue, mutual understanding, and shared values. 

In this new paradigm, the Islamic Republic of Iran—under the leadership of His Excellency Dr. Pezeshkian—has defined its foreign policy around three fundamental pillars: maximum engagement with our neighbors; expanding cooperation with emerging actors and countries of the Global South; and fostering balanced relations with global power blocs in both East and West. Our foreign policy is anchored in balance, realism, and constructive pragmatism. 

From day one, Dr. Pezeshkian’s government has emphasized a Neighborhood Policy, focused on enhancing political, economic, and cultural ties with countries across the region. Today, we witness how Iran and its neighbors—from the Persian Gulf to Central Asia—are turning a new page in mutual understanding, cooperation, and friendship after years of turbulence.

In parallel, deepening ties with countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America also constitutes a central axis of our foreign policy. Iran’s membership in organizations such as BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, along with its intensified collaboration with Islamic countries and members of the Non-Aligned Movement, reflects our determination to contribute actively to the shaping of a multipolar, balanced, and equitable global order.

In our regional outlook, we believe that the security and prosperity of each country are inseparably tied to those of its neighbors. Accordingly, rather than persisting with threat-based approaches, we must adopt opportunity-based ones and promote economic interdependence as a sustainable foundation for regional peace and stability. We must prioritize economic cooperation, trade, joint investments, technology transfers, and major infrastructure projects in order to lay the groundwork for collective development and tangible improvements in the lives of our peoples.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

No peace or stability can be achieved in our region without addressing the Palestinian issue sincerely, comprehensively, and decisively. Today, Palestine is the most pressing and urgent item on the regional agenda. For over seventy years, the land of Palestine has endured occupation, injustice, and systematic repression. The Israeli regime has become a chronic threat to regional peace— embodying a combination of occupation, apartheid, and genocide, alongside unfettered access to a vast arsenal of weapons of mass destruction.

We offer a peaceful and democratic solution to the Palestinian issue: the organization of a referendum with the participation of all native residents of Palestine—Muslims, Christians, and Jews—to determine the future political system of their homeland. Inspired by the successful struggle against apartheid in South Africa, this inclusive, people-centered approach could bring an end to decades of occupation, injustice, and discrimination—paving the way for the return of refugees and the establishment of a unified, inclusive state across historic Palestine.

Distinguished Guests,

Another important dimension of Iran’s current foreign policy is our peaceful nuclear program and the unjust, unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States against the Iranian people. As a party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the Islamic Republic of Iran—guided by its religious and ethical principles—has never sought, and will never seek, nuclear weapons. It remains committed to the fundamental principle of non-production and non-use of weapons of mass destruction. We have consistently sought to address reasonable international concerns regarding our nuclear program through engagement and transparency.

We seek a just and balanced agreement—within the framework of the NPT—that fully respects Iran’s nuclear rights and guarantees the comprehensive and verifiable lifting of sanctions. The Islamic Republic of Iran remains committed to diplomacy and expects the unjust and unilateral sanctions that directly harm our people to be terminated in a concrete and tangible manner.

We believe that such an agreement can safeguard the interests of all parties and contribute to the consolidation of peace, security, and stability in the region. 

In the same spirit, Iran is ready to open a new chapter in its relations with Europe, provided that a genuine will and an independent approach are demonstrated by the European parties. Unfortunately, in recent years, an excessive focus on differences rather than common ground has limited the potential for cooperation. Nevertheless, should Europe show the necessary resolve to reverse this course, Iran sees no obstacle to rebuilding mutual trust and expanding relations. By adopting a responsible and constructive approach, Europe can play an effective role in advancing regional development and stability. 

Esteemed Guests,

For the first time in decades, a historic opportunity has emerged for the countries of this region to reclaim the initiative in shaping regional developments, rather than deferring to outside actors. Our nations can reclaim their right to self-determination and work together to define a future shaped not in the strategy rooms of far-off powers, but in response to the region’s own needs, values, and lived experience.

Seen from this perspective, reclaiming regional initiative is not merely about a shift in the balance of power, but a transformation of the intellectual and perceptual foundations that have long served to legitimize the existing order. As regional countries succeed in forging a new language to describe their own reality—a language grounded in historical memory and shared aspirations—they will be able to establish institutions, mechanisms, and alliances that are more durable, legitimate, and effective than externally imposed arrangements.  In doing so, the region will not simply be a participant in the international order, but a true architect of its future.

To achieve this goal, the Islamic Republic of Iran will remain a reliable partner and a trustworthy ally for the region and all its nations and peoples.

The Islamic Republic of Iran pursues a diplomatic approach that engages all neighboring states, aiming to build a strong, convergent region based on the guiding principle of concord.

Thank you for your attention.