Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stresses Iran’s commitment to using diplomatic instruments to safeguard regional peace and security, while making clear that diplomacy would not preclude the Islamic Republic from defending itself against threats or aggression.

The top diplomat made the remarks in Tehran on Wednesday during a meeting with Poland’s visiting Deputy Foreign Minister Wojciech Zajaczkowski.

At the same time as giving diplomacy a chance, Iran “would likewise not hesitate to defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity by all means against any threat or act of aggression,” the foreign minister said.

Araghchi attributed the prevailing insecurity in the region and the Strait of Hormuz to aggressive actions by the United States and the Israeli regime.

Washington and Tel Aviv launched their latest round of unprovoked aggression against Iran in February only to be faced with at least 100 waves of decisive and successful Iranian retaliation. The Islamic Republic additionally closed the strategic Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for the waterway’s being used to contribute to the aggression.

Araghchi, meanwhile, criticized the complicity or inaction of certain European countries in the face of the overt military aggression against Iran, stressing that all countries, including European states, had to take a principled position by condemning the aggression and the crimes committed in its course.

The official also highlighted the positive historical ties between the Iranian and Polish peoples, emphasizing the need to build on the existing potential in both countries to expand bilateral engagement across various fields and advance mutual interests.

Referring to issues discussed with his Polish counterpart on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, he underscored the importance of planning to translate the countries’ existing potential into stronger cooperation.

For his part, Zajaczkowski expressed delight at visiting Iran and outlined Poland’s positions on regional and international developments.