
TEHRAN – Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Monday stressed the country’s resolve to defend its national interests and security when they met visiting Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in Tehran separately.
"Negotiation is meaningless with an enemy that resorts to acts of assassination, sanctions, pressure, and threats on a daily basis, and breaks its promises," Pezeshkian said in his meeting with Mirzoyan, according to a statement published on the website of his office.
"So far, they (the United States) have attacked us three times following talks, which demonstrates that they are not seeking dialogue, but rather aiming to overthrow the Islamic Republic of Iran's establishment," said the Iranian president.
Washington offered no answer to the killing of 168 innocent children at a school in Iran's southern city of Minab on Feb 28, he said, adding: "None of their actions and behaviors towards Iran complies with international law.”
RELATED ARTICLES
Araghchi said Iran will "decisively" defend its national interests and security, but has never hesitated to use diplomacy to prevent escalation of tensions, according to a statement released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry.
He said the "precarious" consequences of the US-Israeli military "aggression" against Iran are the main cause of the insecurity imposed on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Mirzoyan, for his part, emphasized the "strategic nature" of relations between Armenia and Iran, and Yerevan's continued commitment to expanding cooperation with Tehran, the statement said.
In his meeting with Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Mirzoyan stressed that his country will not allow its territory to be used for any action against Iran, according to Iran's official news agency IRNA.
On Feb 28, Israel and the US launched joint attacks on Tehran and other Iranian cities. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and US bases and assets in the region, and tightened its grip on the Strait of Hormuz.
