Foreign Minister Araghchi Says US Government Applies 'Jungle Law' in International Arena

JAKARTA - Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the United States, under President Donald Trump's administration, applied 'law of the jungle' in the international arena, so that other countries had no choice but to resist the pressure and become stronger.

He made the statement on Sunday when answering questions in a special panel held as part of the two-day National Congress on Foreign Policy and Foreign Relations History.

In his speech at the panel, Foreign Minister Araghchi said the US always pursues a policy of using force to achieve its goals.

"In the past, the US government previously sought international legitimacy to advance this policy, but the current president is implementing it openly and explicitly."

Under the Trump Administration, the United States "attacked wherever it wanted, kidnapped the president of any country it wanted and told him to do whatever it wanted. The United States ordered other countries to hand over certain islands, and ordered other countries to change the name of certain regions," Foreign Minister Araghchi said, referring to President Trump's order to attack Iran's nuclear sites in June 2025, the kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro last month, and pressure on Denmark to hand over Greenland, reported IRNA (9/2).

"This situation, in fact, is a return to 'jungle law', where the stronger imposes its will on others," he explained, stressing the need to be stronger to survive.

"Therefore, there is no other choice but to be strong. If you are weak, you will be destroyed. This is the first principle of the law of the jungle and the same principle behind 'peace through violence'. If you lack strength, the peace they want will be imposed on you," continued Foreign Minister Araghchi.

"Therefore, becoming stronger is an obligation for us, and one of the keys to gaining strength is the power of resistance, that is, the ability to stand firm against pressure," he added, noting that if Iran retreated even one step, they would be forced to make further concessions.

The congress, which opened on the same day, brought together Iranian diplomats and academics to discuss Iran's relations with other countries and the international system over the past decades.

In another part of his speech, the Iranian foreign minister stressed the need for a united domestic voice in foreign policy, saying this would help Iran better withstand foreign pressure.