Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said that the economic sanctions imposed on his country by the United States represent, as he described them, a form of “political and economic coercion,” pointing to their repercussions on the lives of Iranians.
In a brief address to the press accredited to the United Nations, Araqchi explained that these measures not only have economic repercussions but also affect the daily lives of the population, including women and children. He stated that the pressures and sanctions imposed on Iran directly impact Iranian society at a time when the country is already grappling with the consequences of regional instability and tensions related to the conflict with the United States and Israel.
During his address to the media, Araqchi chose not to open the floor to questions from journalists, explaining that he would present in his written speech the points he considered relevant to the topic, before addressing the sanctions, the nuclear file, the repercussions of the regional escalation, and Iran’s position on the diplomatic track.
These statements come at a time when the corridors of the United Nations in New York are witnessing intensive diplomatic contacts regarding the war between Iran, the United States and Israel, in addition to negotiations and indirect messages between Tehran and Washington regarding the conditions for resuming the diplomatic track.
The Iranian minister's remarks about sanctions come within the broader context of Tehran's stances during the UN General Assembly meetings this week. Araqchi had stated, upon beginning his participation in the 81st session of the General Assembly, that the Iranian delegation's primary objective was to present his country's positions and defend what he termed the rights and interests of the Iranian people before the international community.
During his speech, Araqchi also addressed the Iranian nuclear issue, stressing his country’s commitment to the peaceful nature of its nuclear program, and pointing to Iran’s commitment to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, known as the NPT.
In this context, the Iranian minister rejected what he described as a propaganda campaign related to the Iranian nuclear program, and said that the narrative of Iran’s pursuit of a nuclear weapon began, according to him, in 2003, and that the United States and its allies have continued, he said, to repeat this narrative ever since.
Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, Araqchi said that his country had presented the United States, through intermediaries, with a "concrete" seven-day plan under which the strait could be reopened, noting that the decision now rests with Washington to accept it.
He explained that the plan includes a cessation of hostilities in the Middle East, including in Lebanon, the lifting of the US naval blockade on Iranian ports, the release of frozen Iranian assets, and the lifting of sanctions on Iranian oil exports. Under the plan, Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz on the seventh day if these conditions were met, after which negotiations would resume on a final agreement between Tehran and Washington.
An Iranian official said on Tuesday that the proposal was sent to the United States through intermediaries on September 16, and that the Iranian delegation in New York was authorized to pursue the diplomatic track. Araghchi also confirmed that Tehran was awaiting Washington's response, noting that China supported the proposal.
A senior Iranian official told Reuters on Friday that Tehran would show no flexibility on its nuclear program even if the United States accepted Iran's proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that the waterway would remain closed until "all of Iran's conditions are met" by Washington.
The proposal is linked to a memorandum of understanding reached by Tehran and Washington in June, which aimed to halt hostilities, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and resume negotiations on the Iranian nuclear issue, before the understanding collapsed and military action resumed.
Araghchi also addressed the repercussions of the recent military escalation in the region, placing the events in Iran within a broader context of regional tensions. The Iranian minister focused on what Tehran considers violations of its sovereignty and the impact of military operations on the population and infrastructure. The Iranian government presented its participation in the UN meetings as an opportunity to present its position to the international community. He stated that Iran would not compromise on its sovereignty and would not hesitate to defend its people and its homeland.
The security of maritime navigation and regional trade was also a key focus of Iranian diplomatic efforts during the General Assembly meetings, particularly concerning the Strait of Hormuz. An official Iranian document addressed to the Security Council confirmed that Tehran had raised, during previous discussions, the possibility of restoring normal navigation through the Strait within the framework of arrangements linked to a ceasefire and the lifting of what it described as the blockade and sanctions imposed upon it.
The Strait of Hormuz is a key strategic passage for global oil trade, and its reopening has become a central issue in ongoing communications between Tehran and Washington to end the war and resume negotiations.
Meanwhile, during his time in New York, Araqchi held a series of meetings with regional and European officials, including French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot. According to the French side, the discussions covered the regional situation, the Iranian nuclear program, the need to return to the diplomatic track, maritime security, and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
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