DUBAI, March 18 — Iran’s stance against the development of nuclear weapons will not significantly change, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told Al Jazeera in remarks relayed by Iranian media today, cautioning that new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has yet to publicly express his view on the matter.
Former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed early in the United States-Israel war against Iran, opposed the development of weapons of mass destruction in a fatwa, or religious edict, issued in the early 2000s.
Western countries, including the US and Israel, have for years accused Tehran of seeking nuclear weapons, while Iranian authorities have said their nuclear programme is solely for civilian purposes.
Abbas said fatwas depend on the Islamic jurist issuing them and added that he is not yet in a position to judge the jurisprudential or political views of Iran’s new supreme leader.
New protocol for Strait of Hormuz
Abbas said he believes that when the war ends, countries that border the Gulf should draft a new protocol for the Strait of Hormuz to ensure safe passage through the narrow waterway is carried out under certain conditions aligned with Iranian and regional interests.
Iran shut the vital energy gateway, through which a fifth of global oil and liquefied gas passes, saying it “won’t even allow a litre of oil” to reach the US, Israel and their partners.
Yesterday, Iran’s parliament speaker said the Strait of Hormuz situation won’t return to its pre-war conditions.
The US has sought to build a naval coalition to escort vessels navigating the strait, with most NATO allies saying they don’t want to get involved in military operations against Iran.
NATO-member France said it would only consider a joint international coalition to secure passage through the strait following a ceasefire and prior negotiations with Tehran.
Abbas said an end to the war is only conceivable if the conflict is permanently over throughout the region and Iran receives compensation for damages incurred.
Strikes near urban areas blamed on US relocation
Asked about Iranian strikes in the Gulf not only targeting US military bases but also impacting residential or commercial areas, Abbas said this is because US forces relocated to urban areas.
“Wherever there were American forces gathering, wherever there were facilities belonging to them, they were targeted. It is possible some of these places were near urban areas,” the top Iranian diplomat said.
Abbas acknowledged that regional countries are “upset and their people have been harmed or bothered” by Iranian strikes, but added that the blame lay entirely with the US for starting the war on February 28.
