TEHRAN: Global nuclear watchdog reported by means of X: “The IAEA has been informed by Iran that the Natanz nuclear site was attacked today (21st March, 2026).”
IAEA further told via X: “No increase in off-site radiation levels reported. IAEA is looking into the report. IAEA Director General @rafaelmgrossi reiterates call for military restraint to avoid any risk of a nuclear accident.”
Porte parole of the Russian Foreign Ministry, while terming the attack on Iran’s enrichment facility as blatant violation of international law, condemned the US attack: “The international community must immediately provide an objective and hardline assessment of these irresponsible actions, which pose a real risk of a catastrophe across the Middle East.”
Irani FM Abbas Araghchi talks to Japanese publication Kyodo News:
Kyodo News: Do you have a message for the int. community regarding this unjust war against Iran?
FM Abbas Araghchi: Our message is that this war is not our war. This is a war that has been imposed on us. We were negotiating with the U.S. when they decided to attack us. This was a clearly aggressive act; an illegal, unjustified, and unprovoked act of aggression.
Kyodo News: What we are doing is purely self-defense. We will continue to defend ourselves, however necessary and for as long as necessary.
FM Abbas Araghchi: Our message is that this war is not our war. This is a war that has been imposed on us. We were negotiating with the U.S. when they decided to attack us. This was a clearly aggressive act; an illegal, unjustified, and unprovoked act of aggression.
What we are doing is purely self-defense. We will continue to defend ourselves, however necessary and for as long as necessary.
So we hope that the whole world will have a single voice against this aggression, that is, the aggression of the U.S. and the Israeli regime and force them to stop this aggression.
Kyodo News: What do you expect Japan to do to resolve this crisis?
FM Abbas Araghchi: : Japan has always taken a fair and balanced position and has always been known as a friend to Iran. We have always had very good relations with Japan, and we are aware of this. During this war, I spoke with the Japanese FM twice.
We know that the Japanese PM was in Washington. We hope that Japan can play a constructive role in ending this aggression and ensuring that this unjust war is completely ended.
Our position is, and I must repeat, that we do not accept a ceasefire because we do not want the scenario of last year to be repeated. The war must be completely and permanently ended, and there must be guarantees that this situation will not be repeated. Additionally, the damages that have been inflicted on Iran must be compensated.
Kyodo News: Is there currently an active mediator to achieve a ceasefire?
FM: Some countries are trying to play a positive and constructive role. We welcome any initiative that can completely end this war. We are ready to listen and consider. But right now, although some countries are trying to find a solution, the U.S. does not seem ready to stop its aggression. So we will continue to defend ourselves.
Kyodo News: What are Iran’s conditions for a ceasefire?
FM Abbas Araghchi: As I said, we are not looking for a ceasefire. We want a complete, comprehensive, and sustainable end to the war, and the only acceptable solution in our opinion is a complete end to the war.
Newspakistan.tv
