Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi Says He Has Not Met New Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei

Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi told reporters that he has not had a direct meeting with the newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei since the latter took office in March, noting that only a very small number of officials have met the leader. Araghchi also admitted that security gaps which previously enabled U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran’s leadership – including the killing of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei – have not been fully sealed. He described how, on the day the former leader was killed, Iranian officials prepared a plan to close the Strait of Hormuz and alerted regional diplomatic contacts about potential attacks on U.S. bases, emphasizing that any such action would target Washington.

Regarding Iran’s missile forces, Araghchi said the launch system has been restructured over the past eight months to ensure an essentially inexhaustible stock of missiles. He stressed that while Iran seeks diplomatic solutions, negotiations must occur when it holds a clear military advantage, stating, “If we cannot achieve an absolute military victory, we must negotiate, but negotiations should happen while we are strong on the battlefield.”