In an interview broadcast Aug. 18, Iran's foreign minister Araghchi said recently
military clashes involving Iran, the U.S. and Israel demonstrate that reliance
on external forces and bases cannot guarantee Gulf states' security. He said the
presence of U.S. troops and bases not only fails to provide security but is a
destabilizing factor, and that countries without U.S. bases are safer. Araghchi
added Iran is not seeking only a ceasefire but a complete end to the war, and
does not want a cycle of short truces followed by renewed fighting.
