By The South Asia Times

TEHRAN - Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has sharply criticized the United States, accusing it of imposing a “law of the jungle” in global affairs, while senior military officials declared the country prepared to confront any threat, remarks that underscore growing tensions despite recent diplomatic contacts between Tehran and Washington.

Speaking at Iran’s National Congress on Foreign Policy and the History of Foreign Relations in Tehran, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the United States under President Donald Trump is openly relying on force to achieve its geopolitical objectives, according to state-run IRNA. 

Araghchi argued that while previous US administrations sought international legitimacy for their actions, the current leadership is implementing its strategy “explicitly,” warning that such behavior leaves other nations with little choice but to resist external pressure and strengthen their capabilities.

“This situation represents a return to the ‘law of the jungle,’ where the stronger impose their will on others,” he said, stressing that national strength and resistance are essential for survival in an increasingly confrontational international environment.

The Iranian diplomat referenced recent U.S. actions --including reported strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025, pressure campaigns against other countries, and what he described as coercive foreign policy -- to illustrate what he called a pattern of unilateral behavior.

He also urged greater domestic unity on foreign policy, arguing that a cohesive national stance would help Iran withstand external pressure and avoid being forced into concessions.

Meanwhile, Brigadier General Bahman Behmard, commander of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force, said the armed forces are fully prepared to confront threats “with unwavering determination.”

Speaking during Air Force Day commemorations attended by senior military leadership, Behmard said Iran remains undeterred despite sanctions and what he described as “hard and soft warfare.” He added that the Air Force, built on agility and deterrence, can respond to both regional and extra-regional threats.

The commander also highlighted the Air Force’s role during what he called a “12-day imposed war,” claiming Iranian forces conducted large-scale aerial and unmanned operations against targets linked to Israel while maintaining patrol and scramble missions.

The remarks come amid heightened military signaling in the Gulf region. Araghchi said Iran was not intimidated by a recent US naval deployment after American negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner visited the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea.

In what analysts view as a reciprocal show of force, the Iranian foreign minister later visited Iranian warships, a move interpreted as a message that Tehran is ready to defend its interests.

Although President Trump previously described recent Friday talks with Iranian officials as taking place in a “good atmosphere” with plans for further dialogue, developments on the ground suggest persistent divisions, particularly after Iran rejected US demands to eliminate uranium enrichment.