Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has criticized the United States, claiming that Washington made a miscalculation by launching a war after Iran rejected U.S. demands to halt uranium enrichment during pre-war nuclear negotiations.

In an interview with local journalist Javad Mogouei, released on July 19 (local time), Araghchi refuted the suggestion that Iran had pursued negotiations under the assumption that it could secure its rights after winning the 12-day war (which took place last June). He firmly rejected the claim, stating, "That is not the case."

He explained, "We resisted their irrational demand for '0% enrichment.' When they realized they could not achieve their goals through negotiations, they miscalculated Iran's readiness and started the war. Negotiations did not trigger the war."

He continued, "In February of this year, they presented an ultimatum: either accept the 0% enrichment demand or face military action. While the government and military authorities were convinced that war was inevitable, we believed that we should negotiate once or twice. Even if the talks failed, it would build a justification that we had done everything we could, in case the other side decided to abandon their demands."

He added, "Any country would prefer the path of negotiation if it can achieve its goals, as it carries less risk and lower costs. If there is even a 10% chance of avoiding war through negotiations, one must take that opportunity."

Araghchi noted that the decision to negotiate with the U.S. after the 12-day war was not his own, but a collective decision made by a six-member committee under the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC).

He recounted that during the committee meeting, a high-ranking military official told him, "We are fully prepared. Mr. Minister, you do your job," which guided his approach to the negotiations.

"Through the 12-day war, we gained not only political lessons but also very important military ones," he claimed. "The missile launcher system has been completely reorganized into a structure where, no matter how much they strike, it can be immediately replaced."

He added, "Military scenarios regarding a unilateral U.S. attack, a joint U.S.-Israel attack, strikes on national infrastructure, and the potential passing of the Supreme Leader were all reviewed, and codes were assigned for each. With these preparations, we were able to respond without delay immediately after the war broke out."

"How else could we have blocked the Strait of Hormuz from the very first day?" he asked. "It was designed to be closed immediately if the Supreme Leader were to be struck."

Addressing criticism about why Iran did not pressure Middle Eastern countries more strongly, he dismissed it as inaccurate. "One regional leader, with an arrogant attitude and a strange sense of joy, told me that 'the U.S. will target the Iranian mainland and your Supreme Leader.' I warned him that 'if you strike our oil facilities, no one in the Middle East will be able to export oil.'"

He stated that this warning prompted regional countries to take action to prevent the war.

Regarding the anti-government protests in January, he admitted, "We acknowledge the fact that we had weaknesses," but claimed that "starting January 8 and 9, external operatives intervened in earnest and fired indiscriminately at civilians and security forces."

He linked these events to statements made by U.S. President Donald Trump, who had said he would intervene if bloodshed occurred in Iran.

He also mentioned that the Omani Foreign Minister, who acted as a mediator for the nuclear talks, had posted on X that the atmosphere for negotiations was good until just before the war broke out. In reality, however, the Omani minister, who was visiting the U.S., had called Araghchi to express deep disappointment and distress.

Araghchi said he concluded that war was inevitable the day before it began and reported this to his superiors.

He revealed that he learned of the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on the night of February 28, the day the war broke out, at around 9:00 a.m. Araghchi had denied Khamenei's death for some time.

Araghchi emphasized that the retaliatory airstrikes in the Gulf region were not an independent decision by the military, but were carried out after real-time communication with the core leadership of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and following a diplomatic ultimatum.

He also stated that he had never met the new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.

When asked if the ceasefire was based on Mojtaba's opinion, he only replied, "At the time, it was difficult to communicate directly with him, so we communicated through liaisons, and matters were conveyed in that manner."

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)