In a remarkable and provocative statement, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declared, “Iran’s atomic bomb is its ability to say no to the great powers. This is something that began with the revolution and has continued ever since. It should not be underestimated.”
In an October 25, 2025, interview, Araghchi engaged in Tehran’s familiar double-talk. He insisted that the nuclear program is peaceful and said the Islamic Republic stands ready to prove this to Washington, though he also hinted it could be an instrument of military power. He likely means such vague threats to threaten U.S. interests and Israel but not to worry his allies in Russia and China.
“Our problem with America is unsolvable.”
Araghchi also raised the stakes, saying, “Our problem with America is unsolvable.” As usual, he blamed the United States, accusing it of a quest for dominance. “As long as America clings to its domineering nature and the Islamic Republic insists on resisting domination, this problem between us and America will not be resolved. But I believe we can manage it. There is no reason to pay any price.”
Tehran “managed” Washington for years until President Donald Trump, during his first term, rejected the 2015 nuclear deal and reimposed sanctions. That decision crippled Iran’s oil-dependent and fragile economy. The situation deteriorated further after Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel and the subsequent Israeli operations, which weakened Tehran’s regional position.
In his second term, Trump has demanded major concessions not only on the nuclear program but also on Iran’s military and regional policies. Those demands eventually led to the recent reimposition of United Nations sanctions, suspended under the 2015 nuclear agreement.
Araghchi reiterated in his interview that Tehran is ready to negotiate to “manage” the danger from Washington, but he complained about U.S. preconditions. Tehran now faces a reality in which it cannot rely on endless talks to manage each American administration until the next one takes office. Yet, for now, the regime has no choice but to deter another attack, buy time until Trump’s term ends, and then resume its cycle of prolonged negotiations while rebuilding nuclear sites and regional influence.
Araghchi was not the only Iranian official using defiant language. Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf told lawmakers on October 26 that all limitations imposed by U.N. Resolution 2231 had expired and that Iran now holds the right to enrich uranium. “According to Paragraph 8 of Resolution 2231, all restrictions and obligations under this resolution have ended … and with the formal recognition of Iran’s right to enrichment, the country’s nuclear file has been removed from the Security Council’s agenda,” Ghalibaf declared.
Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf told lawmakers ... all limitations imposed by U.N. Resolution 2231 had expired and that Iran now holds the right to enrich uranium.
Last week, Russia, China, and Iran sent a joint letter to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), insisting that with the ten-year sunset clause of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action expiring on October 18, all provisions of Resolution 2231 had ended. The letter demanded that the IAEA halt all reporting on Iran’s nuclear program. Tehran brandished the letter as proof of support from Moscow and Beijing, arguing that the reimposed United Nations sanctions are illegal. “China and Russia, as two permanent members of the Security Council, have stood firmly by Iran, demonstrating that the era of American unilateralism and its allies has come to an end,” Ghalibaf proclaimed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continued to needle Iran’s rulers, hinting at regime change—the prospect they fear most. “The Jewish people and the people of Persia have had a long history of mutual respect and admiration. Somebody got in the way and hijacked Iran. It’s gonna end eventually; the people of Iran will take charge of their destiny again,” he said in a video message.
Meanwhile, some insiders in Tehran urge moderation and a greater focus on the economy instead of constant confrontation. Yet they refuse to call for fundamental changes in foreign policy. They still defend Hamas, avoid demanding recognition of Israel, and shy away from dismantling the nuclear program.
