Iranian foreign minister criticizes 'doctrine of domination' benefiting Israel

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday denounced what he called a “doctrine of domination” that allows Israel to expand its military arsenal while restricting those of other countries in the region, a day after renewed talks with Washington.

His remarks came after negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program resumed Friday. The process had been frozen since Israel launched unprecedented airstrikes on Iran last year, sparking a 12-day war in June.

Araghchi, who represented Tehran at the talks in Oman and described them as taking place in a “very positive atmosphere,” did not provide further details at the Al Jazeera Forum in Qatar. He did, however, criticize what he described as “Israel’s expansionist project, which requires neighboring countries to be weakened: militarily, technologically, economically and socially.”

“Within this project, Israel is free to expand its military arsenal without limits … while others are ordered to disarm, others pressured to reduce their defense capabilities, others punished for their scientific advances,” he said.

In June 2025, Israel struck senior Iranian military officials, nuclear scientists and facilities, as well as residential areas. The United States later joined the campaign, targeting key nuclear installations. Tehran responded with drone and missile fire toward Israel and also targeted the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East, in Qatar.

Araghchi said Friday that negotiations with the United States, represented by envoy Steve Witkoff, would continue. U.S. President Donald Trump described the discussions as “very good” and said they would resume “at the beginning of next week.”

The talks followed repeated threats of military action from Washington and the deployment of a major naval force to the Gulf, after a bloody crackdown on a large protest movement in Iran.

According to Araghchi, the negotiations were limited to the nuclear file, in line with Tehran’s demands. Washington, however, wants the agenda to include Iran’s backing of armed groups hostile to Israel as well as its ballistic missile program.