Araghchi says Iran respects Americans’ right to elect president

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday that the Islamic Republic of Iran “respects” the rights of the American people in electing their own president.

“The American people have made their decision. And Iran respects their right to elect the President of their choice,” Araqchi wrote on X.

Republican candidate Donald Trump won the presidential election on November 5, defeating his Democratic rival Kamala Harris.   

Foreign Minister Araghchi also pointed to possible talks between Iran and the United States under incoming Donald Trump’s administration over Tehran’s nuclear program to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).  

“The path forward is also a choice. It begins with respect,” the foreign minister noted.

The chief diplomat also reiterated Tehran’s long-held policy that the Islamic Republic does not seek to produce nuclear arms, saying, “Iran is NOT after nuclear weapons, period.” He added, “This is a policy based on Islamic teachings and our security calculations.”

Trump, who was president from 2017 to 2021, pulled out the Iran nuclear deal in May 2018. He abandoned the JCPOA although Iran was fully observing the terms of the multilateral agreement.  

Araghchi also highlighted the importance of reciprocal confidence-building measures in case the two countries decide to enter talks to discuss contentious issues.    

“Confidence-building is needed from both sides. It is not a one-way street,” the foreign minister asserted.