New statement on leadership from Iran

Following the critical assassination attempt in Iran, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made significant remarks on the Al Jazeera channel. Araghchi emphasized that the attack on Ali Khamenei posed an unprecedented danger in Iranian history and declared that it was a violation of international law.

Pointing out that a vacancy in the leadership position does not threaten the state order, Araghchi underscored that constitutional processes are functioning and that a new leader will be determined in a very short time, within one or two days. Araghchi stated, "Regime change is an impossible task. The absence or death of a leader does not mean the system has collapsed. State institutions remain in place and our constitutional procedures are working. You may see the new leader elected within a day or two."

The Iranian minister, who also expressed that the assassination has further complicated the conflict environment in the region, stated that his country has not set any limits regarding defense.

Providing information about operations conducted against the US and Israel, Araghchi stated that Iran does not have problems with neighboring countries in the Persian Gulf and that their targets are only the American military presence located in these countries. He explained this policy with the words, "Our relations with the countries in the Persian Gulf are good and they have no problems with us. We are not attacking our neighbors in the Persian Gulf; on the contrary, we are targeting the American presence in these countries."

Discussing the effects of the attacks Iran has recently carried out against US bases, Araghchi also noted that the American side has begun to evacuate its military bases in the region.

Touching upon the negotiations conducted with the US, Araghchi stated that the attacks coincided with the negotiation process for the second time. Emphasizing that Iran has always remained open to diplomacy, Araghchi concluded his words as follows: "We have always been open to diplomacy, unlike the United States, and they attacked us for the second time during the negotiations. This time the situation is different. They have to explain why they did this, but only after the attacks stop. Everything depends on when the aggression ends."

Finally, Araghchi stated that they are not currently planning any blockades or steps that would disrupt navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, and that they have no intention of closing the strait at the current stage.