Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday rebutted US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s allegations that Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was injured and disfigured.
said Araghchi in an interview with American broadcaster MS Now.
“He is carrying out his duties in accordance with the Constitution and will continue to do so,” he added.
The foreign minister also denied allegations that Iran had completely closed the , one of the world’s most important oil transport routes, saying the passage is blocked only to vessels with links to the US and Israel.
“It is closed only to American and Israeli ships and tankers, and not to others,” he said.
Commenting on the ongoing attacks by American and Israeli forces against Iran, Araghchi promised retaliation for the US military attack on Kharg Island, responsible for the majority of Iranian oil exports, and stated that Iranian forces will attack any energy infrastructure linked to American companies in the region.
Araghchi alleged that the attacks were launched from UAE territory, specifically from Ras al-Khaimah and a location near Dubai, which he described as “highly dangerous” and “unacceptable” given their proximity to civilian populations.
“Our military has already responded that it will retaliate if our oil and energy infrastructure is attacked,” Araghchi said.
Asked about Russian and Chinese military support, Araghchi acknowledged both nations as “strategic partners” with continued military cooperation, but declined to provide details.
On the topic, he denied threatening to use Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium as a weapon, saying he was trying to convey the scale of the possible concessions Iran was prepared to make.
“We were close to reaching an agreement,” he said. “That’s the reality.”
“This is a war imposed on us,” he said. “We didn’t start this war. We’re just defending ourselves.”
