According to a report published by The Times of Israel on May 8, 2026, Abbas Araghchi accused the United States of abandoning diplomacy in favor of what he described as a dangerous military escalation following overnight confrontations in the Strait of Hormuz.
The reported exchange of fire between Iranian and US forces further heightened tensions in the Gulf region, increasing concerns over the stability of one of the world’s most strategically important maritime corridors. The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical route for global oil shipments, making any military confrontation in the area a major international concern.
Reacting to the developments in a statement shared on X, Araghchi sharply criticised Washington’s handling of the crisis and questioned the motives behind the military actions.
“Is this a crude pressure tactic? Or the result of a spoiler once again duping POTUS into another quagmire,” Araghchi wrote in the statement.
The Iranian foreign minister argued that regardless of the reasons behind the confrontation, the outcome continued to undermine diplomatic engagement and peaceful negotiations between both sides.
“Whatever the causes, the outcome is the same,” he added. “Iranians never bow to pressure and diplomacy is always the victim.”
Araghchi also addressed a recent report by The Washington Post which claimed that the Central Intelligence Agency had assessed that Iran still retained approximately 75 percent of its pre-war ballistic missile arsenal following recent military operations and escalating regional tensions.
Rejecting the reported assessment, the Iranian foreign minister insisted that Iran’s military capabilities had not diminished and claimed the country’s missile and launcher capacity had instead increased.
“The CIA is wrong. Our missile inventory and launcher capacity are not at 75% compared to Feb 28. The correct figure is 120%,” Araghchi stated….Read_More…