News- Middle East: Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says the Israeli regime’s unilateral acceptance of a US-proposed ceasefire deal and Washington’s intervention in the 12-day anti-Iran aggression are indicative of Tel Aviv’s defeat against the Islamic Republic.

Araghchi made the remarks in an interview published by Tasnim News Agency on Wednesday, a day after Israel was forced to accept a truce deal proposed by Washington to halt the aggression against Iran and prevent further Iranian retaliatory strikes on the Israeli-occupied territories and US bases in the region.

“The US engagement in the war was a sign of the Zionist regime's defeat and its inability to continue the conflict. Their naive assumption was that Iran would surrender after Washington’s engagement, but when they saw that our response using the third generation of ‘Kheybar shekan’ missiles was much stronger and more decisive than they had imagined, they backtracked on continuing the war and proposed a ceasefire through mediators,” Araghchi said.

“Iran's acceptance of the ceasefire was to maintain moral and value superiority. The decision is based on creating a new approach to Iranian foreign policy that relies on regional and Islamic values,” he added.

Asked about Iran’s response in case the ceasefire does not hold and Israel or the US continue aggression despite signals for negotiations, the top diplomat said the Islamic Republic’s 12-day robust defense manifested its sophisticated missile power and the will to give a “stronger” and “more decisive” response to any future aggression.

“We manifested very strong resistance; contrary to the imagination of the aggressor regime, which thought that its initial strikes would bring Iran to its knees in the first days, this did not happen. Rather, Iran's firepower increased every day and its will became stronger. The accuracy of our missiles increased, and recent developments proved that Iran is still strong,” he said.

“The steadfastness of the Iranian nation was unparalleled, and the level of solidarity between the people and the government is very promising. The Iranian people saw the sincerity of their government, a government that entered the negotiations with good intentions, but it was the other side that violated it. The government stood firm in the negotiating field and did not give up on the rights of the nation, and it also stood strong on the battlefield.”

Praising the sacrifices of the Iranian people over the past 12 days, Araghchi said, “Today, we are witnessing a real national unity and widespread popular resistance; despite the challenges of war, sufferings, martyrs, injuries, and fears, I am confident that the Iranian nation and government will stand firm until the end in defending the integrity, sovereignty, independence, and interests of the country and its achievements.”

On whether the Israeli and American aggression could weaken Iran's will to continue its nuclear program, especially in the field of uranium enrichment, the top diplomat said it will only become stronger.

“On the contrary, its effect will be positive and will strengthen our will. We have made great efforts to achieve this technology. Our scientists have sacrificed their lives for it. Our nation has endured sanctions for it, and even a war has been imposed on us over this issue. Therefore, no one in Iran is willing to give up this technology,” he asserted.

Araghchi underlined that Iran's nuclear program has been transparent and under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

In the wee hours of June 13, the Israeli regime launched an all-out aggression on Iranian soil by targeting various military and nuclear sites, claiming the lives of dozens of top military commanders and nuclear scientists as well as ordinary civilians.

After 12 days, during which the Iranian armed forces inflicted heavy blows on the regime and its military and industrial infrastructure, the Israeli regime was forced to unilaterally accept a truce deal.

Source: Press TV