TEHERAN - Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi held a phone conversation with European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on Tuesday, during which he condemned what he described as "military aggression" by Israel and the United States against Iran, according to a statement from the Iranian Foreign Ministry.
In the phone call, Araghchi said the Iranian people decisively defended their country's territorial integrity and national sovereignty against the Israeli-US "aggression," which he said had severely undermined diplomacy, the Non-Proliferation Treaty, and UN Security Council Resolution 2231 -- the resolution endorsing the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.
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He criticized certain European countries and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi for their positions, particularly during the recent adoption of an anti-Iran resolution by the IAEA Board of Governors.
Araghchi warned that the continuation of that "destructive" approach by certain European countries would further complicate the situation and obstruct diplomatic efforts toward de-escalation.
Kallas, for her part, stressed that there was no evidence indicating that the development of Iran's atomic program was for making nuclear weapons.
She highlighted the necessity to find a diplomatic solution to resolve Iran's nuclear issue and support ongoing efforts to de-escalate tension and ensure stability in the West Asia region.
On June 13, Israel launched major airstrikes on several areas in Iran, including nuclear and military sites, killing senior commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians. Iran responded with multiple waves of missile and drone attacks on Israel.
On June 22, US forces bombed three Iranian nuclear facilities. In retaliation, Iran struck the US Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
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After 12 days of fighting, a ceasefire between Iran and Israel was reached on June 24.
More time needed for US talks
Araghchi has said the country still needs more time to decide about the resumption of negotiations with the US.
Araghchi made the remarks in an interview with CBS News in Teheran, which was published on Monday, while commenting on the possibility of restarting the nuclear talks between Iran and the United States.
On a claim by US President Donald Trump that the negotiations could start as early as this week, Araghchi said he did not think the process would restart as quickly as what Trump had claimed, adding, "In order for us to decide to re-engage, we will have to first ensure that the United States will not revert back to targeting us in a military attack during the negotiations."
"And I think with all these considerations, we still need more time," he said, noting that, however, "The doors of diplomacy will never slam shut."
The Israeli attacks were launched a few days before the sixth round of indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States on Teheran's nuclear program and the removal of US sanctions, scheduled to be held in Oman's capital Muscat on June 15.
2 killed over Israel ties
Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said on Tuesday it had arrested more than 50 "terrorists and proxies" linked to Israel, and killed two others in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan.
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TeheranAccording to a statement published on IRGC's official news outlet Sepah News, the individuals were also affiliated with "terror groups" based in eastern Iran and were detained or killed in operations over the past two weeks.
TeheranThose individuals sought to destabilize the southern parts of Sistan and Baluchestan, and carry out sabotage operations to damage economic sectors and infrastructure, it said, adding that large quantities of weapons and ammunition, including American armaments, were seized from them.
