Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi Defends Wartime Diplomacy Amid Parliamentary Scrutiny

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday defended his diplomatic efforts to end the conflict with the US in the face of mounting criticism from domestic political circles. Facing three hours of questioning from members of Iran's parliament, the Islamic Consultative Assembly, Mr Araghchi addressed an impeachment motion filed by a critical MP regarding claims that he overstepped his authority by meeting with US officials in New York without permission from Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.

State media reported that MPs also raised public concerns regarding Iran's national unity and cohesion, highlighting ongoing political divisions reshaped by the war and the assassination of senior figures such as Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Defending his actions, Mr Araghchi stated that his UN General Assembly delegation in New York articulated Iran's positions eloquently and authoritatively while adhering strictly to instructions from competent domestic authorities. State media quoted him as saying that Iran demonstrated both its resilience in self-defense and its commitment to using diplomacy to safeguard national security.

As part of his diplomatic initiative, Mr Araghchi has proposed a seven-day plan aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz should the US accept Iranian conditions, though US President Donald Trump has already rejected the offer. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio asserted on Wednesday that Iran has lost control of the strategic waterway, noting that oil flows have rebounded to near prewar levels. According to ship-tracking firm Kpler, the seven-day moving average for Gulf crude exports reached 18.3 million barrels per day on September 30, compared to the pre-war annual average of 18 million bpd. Mr Rubio further claimed that Iran is enduring crippling sanctions that have sent its economy into a total and complete free fall toward unprecedented hardship.