In a telephone conversation with his Spanish counterpart José Manuel Albares on Thursday, Araqchi praised Spain's principled and honorable positions in opposing the military aggression by the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran and condemning the war crimes committed against the Iranian people.
“Spain’s valuable stances in defending international law and human values have been recognized and praised by the Iranian nation and the international community, and will never be forgotten,” Araqchi said.
Elaborating on the war crimes committed by the US and the Zionist regime during 40 days of military aggression against Iran, Araqchi emphasized the responsibility of all countries to condemn these crimes and to hold the perpetrators accountable and punish them.
“Iran, in a responsible approach, has responded positively to the good offices of mediators to establish a ceasefire and halt the war in the Middle East. However, achieving this requires the United States to fulfill its commitments to stop the war and the Zionist regime’s incitement in Lebanon,” he stated.
For his part, the Spanish foreign minister described support for international law, human values, and opposition to war as fundamental principles of Spain’s foreign policy. Albares emphasized that Spain has consistently underscored the illegality of military attacks against Iran.
Expressing satisfaction over the announcement of a ceasefire, the Spanish foreign minister highlighted the necessity for all parties to adhere to the ceasefire and to focus on diplomatic pathways to restore lasting stability and security in the region.
The US and the Israeli regime launched a large-scale unprovoked military campaign against Iran following the assassination of then Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, along with several senior military commanders and civilians on February 28.
In retaliation, Iranian Armed Forces launched attacks on American and Israeli positions in the region, demonstrating their capability to strike back effectively. Despite initial expectations by the attackers of a swift victory, the Iranian response proved significantly more potent, inflicting heavy damage on US and Israeli military resources while rallying the nation's unity and resistance.
While the US president had issued an ultimatum, Pakistani mediation facilitated an agreement for a two-week ceasefire during which negotiations would take place in Islamabad. Iran has proposed a ten-point plan as the foundation for discussions, seeking terms such as the withdrawal of US forces from the region, lifting sanctions, and establishing control over the Strait of Hormuz.
The Supreme National Security Council of Iran emphasized on April 8 that the aggression led to a historic victory for Iran, compelling the US to accept negotiation terms, including a plan for guaranteed non-aggression and the cessation of hostilities.
Iran has stressed that the negotiations would not signify an end to the conflict but rather an extension of the battlefield into diplomatic efforts, with a clear stance of distrust towards the US.