Iran's Top Diplomat Says US and Israel Failed to Bribe or Intimidate Tehran

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated in an interview released on Sunday that the United States and Israel attempted to bribe Iran during nuclear negotiations before a 12-day conflict in 2026. Araghchi claimed that instead of offering genuine deals, the two countries tried to use economic incentives to sway Iran’s position on its nuclear program. “They came to bribe the Islamic Republic, saying we will do this and that, we will build this and that. I told them there that our enrichment is not for sale,” Araghchi said. He added that he made clear to them that threats and bribes would not work. “No bribes and no threats. You have to threaten someone who is afraid,” he recounted. Despite the war, Araghchi emphasized that Iran’s policies remain unchanged. He noted that both friends and foes have acknowledged that Iran has made the world realize its “atomic bomb is the Strait of Hormuz” — a reference to the strategic waterway through which a significant portion of global oil flows. Iran has previously threatened to block the strait in response to pressure. The interview was broadcast on Iranian state television, though excerpts were shared on social media. The United States and Israel have not publicly responded to Araghchi’s remarks. Tensions between Iran and Western powers have been high for decades, particularly over Iran’s nuclear activities.