Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, Foreign Minister, at the opening ceremony of the "Tehran Dialogue Forum 2025," attended by President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, commenced his remarks by appreciating the development-oriented approach of the 14th government:

"I sincerely thank all of you, esteemed guests, for your valuable presence, especially His Excellency Dr. Pezeshkian, the respected President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, who, with his development-oriented vision, has breathed new spirit into the body of Iranian and regional diplomacy."

The Foreign Minister, referring to the first anniversary of the martyrdom of the late President, Ayatollah Raisi, and his entourage, which recently passed (in May 2025), continued: "On this occasion, I deem it my duty to honor the memory of my dear friend and colleague, the late Foreign Minister, Martyr Hossein Amirabdollahian, as well as the martyred President and their other companions, the first anniversary of whose heavenly ascension we have just commemorated."

The Head of the diplomatic apparatus, then reviewing developments in the international arena and foreign policy over the past year, added: "Last year was, unfortunately, fraught with bitter events and humanitarian catastrophes. Foremost among these calamities are the unceasing aggressions and crimes of the Zionist regime in Gaza; atrocities that are, without doubt, a clear and unprecedented instance of genocide. The world witnessed this genocide, at times live and directly on television screens or across the expanse of cyberspace. Our proposed solution to the Palestinian issue remains the holding of a comprehensive referendum with the participation of all original inhabitants of this land – whether Muslim, Christian, or Jewish – to determine the future and political system of Palestine."

The Gaza War and the Collapse of Moral, Legal, and Political Covenants

Araghchi, pointing to the catastrophic dimensions of the Gaza war, stated: "Since October 2023, more than sixty thousand Palestinians, a vast number of whom are innocent women and children, have lost their lives in the Gaza Strip. Millions have been displaced and are trapped in the merciless grip of siege and famine. And it is a matter of profound regret that the international community has failed to demonstrate an appropriate and responsible reaction to these horrific crimes. The deadly silence and inaction of powers that claim to be champions of human conscience, alongside the impotence of international institutions in preventing this catastrophe, is a bitter, shocking truth, and serves as a wake-up call for the entire world."

He further emphasized: "What is collapsing before our eyes today is not merely the frail bodies of the victims, but the very foundations of those moral, legal, and political covenants that were supposed to be the pillars of the global order. In truth, what we are witnessing today is the collapse of the foundations of collective commitment and responsibility in safeguarding peace, human dignity, and the common conscience of humanity. It is evident that this situation cannot endure."

The Region's Destiny Must Not Remain Contingent on the Decisions and Will of Extra-Regional Forces

The Head of the diplomatic apparatus continued: "The Gaza crisis has once again demonstrated both the impotence and incapacity of the pillars of the international system, and it has also revealed the truth that the destiny of this region can no longer, and must no longer, remain contingent on the decisions and ambitions of extra-regional powers. Indeed, the image that these powers present to the world today as 'regional reality' is nothing but a deeply constructed narrative and a one-sided interpretation that solely reflects their interests; a narrative that must inevitably be challenged, redefined, and rectified from within this very region."

West Asia Requires a Fundamental Re-evaluation of Its Self-Perception

Araghchi, stressing that the West Asia region needs a fundamental re-evaluation of its self-perception, noted: "The long-standing focus on rivalries rooted in the illusion of perpetual threat has not only hindered the formation of constructive cooperation to solve regional and global problems but has also paved the way for the devastating interventions of extra-regional powers. The time has now come to transform this constructed and imposed pseudo-reality and, by relying on interaction, understanding, and shared values, to establish a genuine, indigenous, and desirable order in the region."

Three Fundamental Pillars of the 14th Government's Foreign Policy

The Foreign Minister added: "In such circumstances, the Islamic Republic of Iran, under the government of Dr. Pezeshkian, has defined its foreign policy path along three fundamental pillars: maximum engagement with neighbors, expanding cooperation with emerging actors and countries of the Global South, and establishing balance in relations with global power poles and blocs in the East and West. Our foreign policy is founded on balance and realism."

Iran and Its Neighbors on a Path of Understanding, Cooperation, and Friendship

Araghchi continued: "From its inception, Dr. Pezeshkian's government has prioritized neighborhood policy and is diligently pursuing the expansion and deepening of political, economic, and cultural ties with all countries in the region. Today, we are pleased to witness that Iran and its neighbors, across an expanse from the Persian Gulf to Central Asia, after years of vicissitudes, have opened a new chapter of understanding, cooperation, and amity."

Iran Seeks to Play an Active Role in Shaping a Multipolar Order

The Foreign Minister, while emphasizing that expanding relations with Asian, African, and Latin American countries is one of the main pillars of the Islamic Republic of Iran's foreign policy, added: "Iran's membership in influential organizations such as BRICS and the SCO, as well as the deepening of cooperation with Islamic countries and members of the Non-Aligned Movement, are clear testaments to Iran's determination to play an active and constructive role in laying the foundations for a multipolar, balanced, and just order in the global arena. We have always endeavored, through dialogue and transparency, to respond to the legitimate concerns of the international community regarding our country's nuclear program. The time has come for an opportunity-oriented perspective to replace threat-oriented approaches."

The Head of the diplomatic apparatus then elaborated on Iran's vision for the region, noting: "In our vision, the security and prosperity of each country in the region are inextricably linked to the security and prosperity of its neighbors. On this basis, instead of perpetuating threat-oriented perspectives, we must actively adopt an opportunity-oriented approach and pursue mutual economic interdependence as a solid foundation for sustainable peace and stability in the region. It is imperative that we prioritize the development of economic and commercial cooperation, joint investments, knowledge and technology transfer, and the implementation of infrastructure projects, thereby preparing the ground for collective prosperity and a tangible improvement in the living standards of the people of the region."

The Palestinian Issue Is the Most Important and Urgent Item on the Regional Agenda

Araghchi continued, with special emphasis on the centrality of the Palestinian issue: "Sustainable peace and security in our region will never be achieved without a sincere, root-cause, and comprehensive addressing of the Palestinian issue. Today, the Palestinian issue is, without any doubt, the most important and urgent concern on the regional agenda. For over seven decades, the body of the land of Palestine has been wounded and afflicted by the captivity of occupation, oppression, and injustice. The bitter truth is that the Israeli regime has become an old wound and a chronic threat to regional peace and stability – a threat that inherently combines occupation, apartheid, genocide, and the possession of an arsenal of weapons of mass destruction."

Iran's Peaceful Solution to the Palestinian Issue

The Foreign Minister then elaborated on Iran's solution to the Palestinian issue, stating: "We propose a peaceful and fundamental solution to the long-standing Palestinian crisis: the holding of a national referendum with the presence and participation of all original inhabitants of this land – whether Muslim, Christian, or Jewish – so that they themselves may determine the future political system of this ancient land. This democratic and inclusive plan, inspired by the successful model of anti-apartheid struggles in South Africa, can not only put an end to decades of occupation, discrimination, and injustice but also pave the way for the return of Palestinian refugees and the establishment of a single, all-inclusive state throughout the historical territory of Palestine."

Based on Its Religious and Ethical Principles, Iran Has Never Sought and Does Not Seek Nuclear Weapons

Araghchi, referring to the ongoing indirect talks between Iran and the United States, stated: "Alongside addressing pressing regional issues, another key pillar of our current foreign policy is our peaceful nuclear program and countering the unilateral and unjust sanctions that the United States has wrongfully imposed on the Iranian nation."

He continued: "The Islamic Republic of Iran, as a committed member of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), relying on its inviolable religious and ethical principles, has never sought and does not seek to acquire nuclear weapons, and emphasizes its firm commitment to the principle of non-production and non-use of any weapons of mass destruction. Our endeavor has always been to respond to and alleviate the legitimate concerns of the international community regarding our country's nuclear program through constructive engagement and full transparency."

Iran Is Committed to Diplomacy

The Head of the diplomatic apparatus, while emphasizing the Islamic Republic of Iran's desire for a fair and balanced agreement, outlined the specifications of such an accord: "An agreement that is formed within the framework of the NPT and with full respect for Iran's nuclear rights, and that objectively guarantees the comprehensive lifting of sanctions. The Islamic Republic of Iran is committed to diplomacy and expects the unilateral and unjust sanctions, which have directly targeted the livelihoods of our people, to be lifted in a real and tangible manner. We believe that such an agreement can secure mutual interests and contribute to the establishment of sustainable peace, security, and stability in the region."

In another part of his speech, Araghchi, referring to Iran's readiness to begin a new chapter in relations with Europe, noted: "In this regard, Iran is prepared to usher in a new chapter in bilateral relations should it observe genuine will and an independent approach from its European counterparts. Unfortunately, over the past years, an excessive focus on points of divergence instead of commonalities has eclipsed valuable opportunities for cooperation. Nevertheless, if Europe also demonstrates a true resolve to rectify this path, Iran sees no obstacle to rebuilding mutual trust and expanding cooperation. Europe has the capacity, by adopting a responsible and constructive approach, to become an effective partner in the path of development and the establishment of stability in the region."

Let Us Not Allow the Future of Our Region to Be Shaped in the Think Tanks of Extra-Regional Powers

The Foreign Minister further added: "For the first time in decades, a historic opportunity has arisen for the countries of the region themselves to wrest the helm of developments in this domain from external actors and take it into their own capable hands. Our nations have the capacity, by reviving the right to self-determination and charting a future based on their collective will, to open new horizons of sustainable development, comprehensive peace, and constructive cooperation before them – a future whose destiny will be determined not in the think tanks of extra-regional powers, but in the capitals of the region itself and on the foundation of indigenous needs, values, and realities."

Regional Actors Must Be the Architects of the Future Regional Order

He then asserted: "From this perspective, reclaiming the initiative in the region does not merely mean a change in the balance of power, but a fundamental transformation in those intellectual and perceptual foundations that lend legitimacy to the current order. As long as the countries of the region can create a new language to describe their own reality – a language inspired by their rich historical memory and shared horizons – they will then be able to establish institutions, mechanisms, and alliances that are far more stable, legitimate, and effective than any arrangement imposed from outside. In that case, the region will not just be a player, but the true architect of its own future order."

The Foreign Minister concluded his remarks by adding: "To achieve this lofty aspiration, the Islamic Republic of Iran will be a reliable partner and a steadfast collaborator for all countries and nations in this region. Our diplomacy aims, inspired by the central slogan of 'Vefagh' (Concord) in the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, to join hands with all countries in the region to shape a future based on regional strength and convergence."