In a post on X, Araghchi wrote that just as diplomacy had come under attack in June by Israel and the United States, the Cairo agreement “was likewise killed by the US and the three European countries”, a reference to the US-Israeli attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities in June amid the Tehran-Washington talks.The Cairo agreement outlined Tehran’s cooperation with the IAEA following those raids.

He described as “regrettable and shameful” a chain of events that ultimately led to the collapse of the deal.

According to Araghchi, Iran had been preparing to enter the sixth round of nuclear negotiations with the United States when Israel, and shortly afterward the US, launched attacks on Iran. Despite the bombing of several nuclear facilities, Iran, through Egyptian mediation, reached an agreement in Cairo with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to resume inspections. However, soon after the deal was signed, the three European countries -Britain, Germany, and France- acting under US pressure, pursued efforts to impose UN Security Council sanctions on Iran.

Araghchi added that when Iran began granting IAEA inspectors access to its nuclear sites, starting with those that were not damaged in the June attacks, the US and the European trio jointly moved to secure a condemnation of Iran at the IAEA Board of Governors.
This, he said, made it clear that Iran is not the party seeking to create a new crisis, but rather that “they simply do not recognize our goodwill.” The foreign minister said Washington and the three European governments are responsible for heightening tensions, stressing that they fully understand that the official collapse of the Cairo agreement is a direct consequence of their own provocations.

“If the Zionist regime were to stand alone against Iran, it would not endure for even a week,” he stated, adding that its prolonged resistance was due to support from the U.S. and NATO.

He further noted that even that assistance was insufficient, pushing Washington toward “direct involvement,” referring to the U.S. bombardment of Iran’s safeguarded nuclear facilities.

Qalibaf also emphasized that Iran’s true source of strength lies not only in its military arsenal but in its popular backing.

“We take pride in our missile capability, but our main power is the heart of our people,” he said. “If the people are with us, we are strong; without them, even missiles will not create real power.”

He described the war as a “window of opportunity,” stressing that Iran’s military response, combined with public resilience, thwarted foreign plans to destabilize and fragment the country.

Qalibaf also urged officials to rethink traditional approaches and pursue reforms to address domestic challenges.

His statement came after the IAEA Board of Governors passed a resolution critical of Iran.
Araghchi denounced the resolution, saying the United States and three European countries had pushed it through despite its illegality and lack of justification.

According to him, the UK, France, Germany and the US forced the measure forward even though fifteen board members either opposed it or refused to support it.

He argued that by taking this step and ignoring Iran’s efforts to cooperate with the IAEA, those states have damaged the Agency’s independence and credibility and derailed ongoing technical engagement between Tehran and the IAEA.

The minister also noted that the Cairo document had already been effectively sidelined after the three European countries sought at the UN Security Council to revive canceled resolutions against Iran. He said Tehran has now formally informed the IAEA’s Director General that the Cairo arrangement no longer has any standing and should be regarded as nullified.