Farnaz Fassihi
NY Times, June 22, 2025
“Iran’s options are grim. And whatever it does will be a turning point for the Islamic Republic’s nearly five-decade rule.”
Iran’s clerical rulers have a long history of open animosity toward the United States.
From vowing “Death to America” to striking an American base in Iraq after the U.S. assassination of Iran’s top general, the Iranian government has repeatedly gone to the brink of direct military confrontation with the United States, only to pull back.
Now, with the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, the conflict enters a more dangerous phase.
After the strikes, Abbas Araghchi, the Iranian foreign minister, said on social media that Iran had a legitimate right to respond to U.S. attacks on its nuclear facilities and warned that “Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people.”
He accused the United States of violating the U.N. charter and international law, adding, “The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences.”
Two senior Iranian officials said in text messages that, before the strikes, there had been hope that Mr. Trump could be dissuaded by those around him who opposed another American war in the Middle East. Mr. Araghchi had been in Turkey for meetings, and his diplomatic outreach to European counterparts, to Arab leaders in the region, and to Turkey, was part of an effort to rally support, according to the two officials.
Want to stay updated on what’s happening in Iran and Israel? Sign up for Your Places: Global Update, and we’ll send our latest coverage to your inbox. ….SOURCE