Araghchi says Europe cannot back rule of law while supporting US-Israeli actions

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has criticised European countries over their stance on the ongoing conflict between Iran, the United States and Israel, saying Europe cannot claim to support the rule of law and human rights while remaining indifferent to or supporting military action against Iran.

Araghchi made the remarks during a meeting with Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen in New York on Tuesday, on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

According to Iranian state media, the two foreign ministers discussed bilateral relations as well as regional and international developments. Araghchi accused European countries of applying what he described as double standards to developments in the region, particularly in their response to US and Israeli actions against Iran.

The Iranian foreign minister also blamed what he described as repeated US treaty violations and Washington’s pursuit of war for growing insecurity in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.

He said lasting peace and stability in the region would require an end to US actions that Tehran considers illegal and aggressive, along with respect for Iran’s national rights and interests.

Berendsen, meanwhile, stressed the importance of diplomatic efforts and shared the Netherlands’ assessment of the current situation in the region and relations between Iran and Europe.

Araghchi also held talks with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot in New York and criticised what Iranian media described as France’s interventionist position toward Tehran.

During the meeting, the Iranian foreign minister said the French embassy in Iran must comply with the country’s laws and regulations.

He also criticised Paris’ position on the conflict, particularly its response to US and Israeli military action against Iran.

Araghchi accused France of maintaining what he called double standards on human rights. He said Paris could not raise concerns about human rights while remaining silent over what Tehran describes as violations against Iranian civilians.

He further criticised French cooperation with US sanctions imposed on Iran.

Araghchi said Tehran wanted relations with France and other countries to be based on mutual respect and shared interests. He added that Iran would continue to defend its national interests.

Meanwhile, Iran has conveyed its conditions for ending the ongoing conflict to the United States through a Qatari mediator, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said.

According to Iranian state media, Tehran called for an end to the war on all fronts and a halt to what it described as US acts of aggression.

Iran also demanded an end to the naval blockade and economic pressure, along with the release of Iranian assets, Baghaei said.

US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed that discussions between the two sides had taken place through mediators on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

Witkoff said the mediators moved between the US and Iranian delegations during the talks. He described the discussions as a completed round that Washington hoped would be constructive and promising.

He added that mediators would continue their diplomatic efforts.

Iran has restored around half of the production capacity damaged at the South Pars gas field, according to Deputy Oil Minister Ahmad Zeraatkar, as reported by semi-official Fars news agency.

Zeraatkar said the remaining restoration work was expected to be completed before winter.

He had previously said in late August that around 40 per cent of the damaged capacity had been brought back online.

The South Pars field is a major source of Iran’s natural gas production, making the restoration of its facilities important for the country’s energy supply.

Shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz remained significantly below its recent average on Tuesday.

Preliminary data showed that only three commodity vessels passed through the strategic waterway, compared with four a day earlier and an average of about 15 vessels over the previous 10 days.

The figures could change because some vessels turn off their tracking systems while sailing through the area.

All three vessels recorded in the latest data were moving out of the strait. One Panamax tanker was among them.

A liquefied natural gas carrier, Al Mafyar, was also detected inside the waterway after it had last been recorded outside the strait on September 19.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy routes and previously carried around a fifth of global oil and gas supplies.

Traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait also remained below its recent average. Around 22 commodity vessels passed through the waterway on Tuesday, compared with an average of approximately 26 vessels during the previous 10 days.

In Yemen, government forces said they had taken full control of Mount Qarfan in southern Taiz province after clashes with Houthi fighters.

Major General Abdulaziz Al-Majidi, chief of staff of the Taiz military axis, said government forces backed by local resistance had secured the strategic mountain.

According to the military, more than five Houthi fighters were killed and around 20 others were wounded during the fighting. The Houthis also continued mortar attacks on military positions, the statement said.

The Houthis had not immediately commented on the claim.

Mount Qarfan is located along a mountainous front between the Ash Shamaytayn and Al-Wazi’iyah districts. Its position provides control over surrounding valleys and important surveillance areas.

The fighting comes amid renewed tensions along Yemen’s western front, where clashes have intensified in recent months.

Separately, Yemen’s armed forces said they had shot down a Saudi surveillance drone over Al-Mokha in Taiz province.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in New York to participate in the 81st UN General Assembly session.

Iranian diplomatic officials welcomed Pezeshkian and his delegation following their departure from Tehran.

The Iranian president is expected to meet several world leaders and other political and cultural figures during his visit. He is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly on Wednesday.

His visit comes as tensions remain high between Tehran and Washington.

The US administration has allowed Pezeshkian, Araghchi and essential members of Iran’s diplomatic delegation to attend the UN high-level session. However, several additional members of the Iranian delegation were reportedly denied entry visas, including some media personnel.

An explosion was also heard near Qeshm Island in Iran’s Hormozgan province, according to Iranian state media.

IRNA reported that the sound appeared to have come from the direction of the sea rather than from the island itself.

The agency said there had been no missile or rocket strike on Qeshm Island. Local authorities had not immediately provided an explanation for the incident.

Qeshm is Iran’s largest island and lies near the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

The reported explosion comes amid heightened military and maritime tensions in and around the waterway.

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas also met Araghchi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

Kallas said the discussions focused on diplomatic efforts to end the US-Iran conflict and restore full navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

She stressed the importance of keeping the waterway open and said navigation should remain free and unrestricted through both the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb.

Kallas also raised concerns about the domestic human rights situation in Iran, including what she described as a significant increase in executions and death sentences