Tokyo: Saeed Khatibzadeh, Deputy Foreign Minister and Head of the Center for Political and International Studies (CPIS) at Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that the Islamic Republic has consistently engaged in diplomacy and does not require validation of its intentions. Khatibzadeh, leading a delegation of senior researchers to Japan, shared these insights during a speech at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF) attended by academics, media owners, private sector representatives, and foreign diplomats.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Khatibzadeh highlighted the aggressive actions against Iran, pointing to the unprovoked war in June and the international community’s need to address the Israeli regime’s coordinated efforts with the United States. These actions, he argued, occurred under the guise of diplomacy.

Khatibzadeh emphasized that Iran’s defense strategies and the unity among its citizens thwarted enemy plots and countered longstanding narratives. He asserted that political means would not achieve what aggression could not, especially concerning the demands surrounding Tehran’s nuclear program.

He criticized foreign pressure and reaffirmed Iran’s stance, guided by Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, against succumbing to external forces. Khatibzadeh reiterated Iran’s commitment to diplomacy, asserting that the country has nothing to prove in terms of good intentions.

The Deputy Foreign Minister also took issue with Britain, France, and Germany for activating the snapback mechanism, describing it as a strategic mistake. He urged global governments to move beyond dominance and coercion, advocating for cooperation through multilateral frameworks.

During their visit, Khatibzadeh and his delegation engaged with prominent Japanese think tanks, including the Japan Institute for Energy Economics (JIME) and the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF), and participated in discussions with researchers.