Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi claimed that Iran had not attacked its neighbors in an interview with NBC's Tom Llamas on Thursday.
"We have not attacked our neighbors," said Araghchi. "We have not attacked Muslim countries. We have attacked American targets, and American bases, American installations which are unfortunately located on the soil of our neighbors."
Araghchi said he had spoken to officials from neighboring countries, telling them "we have no real problem with you."
Llamas pressed Araghchi on the issue, stating that Iran was "hitting civilian targets" in the region, to which Araghchi replied, "Maybe there has been some collateral damages, as it is in every war."
"More than 70,000 people were killed in Gaza by Israelis," said Araghchi, "and Israeli army called all of them collateral damage."
Araghchi added, "This war is not our war, it is not our choice. This is a war of choice by the United States."
Talks with the US and the Strait of Hormuz
Llamas then asked Araghchi for Iran's position on a ceasefire.
"Right now, you're saying Iran does not want a ceasefire?" asked Llamas.
"We are not asking for a ceasefire," Araghchi replied, "and we don't see any reason why we should negotiate with the US," noting that they had previously negotiated twice with the US and were attacked both times.
Araghchi also denied that the Iranian regime would attack the US homeland. "They [the US] have enough bases around us," said Araghchi, "why should we go further than that?
Llama then asked about Iranian threats to close the Strait of Hormuz, with Argachi claiming that the reason for ships not passing through the Strait was not due to Iranian threats, but rather fear of being hit by mistake in the fog of war.
"They [Iran] have not closed it," claimed Araghchi, "it is the ships and tankers that don't try to cross the strait because they are concerned about being hit by either side."
We have no intention to close it [the Strait] right now," Aracgchi claimed, "but as the war continues, we will consider every scenario."
Llamas asked Araghchi if Iran considered international oil tankers as legitimate targets, noting that Iran had made threats against them.
"No, why should they be targeted?" said Araghchi, responding specifically to the accusation of threats with "no, we have not threatened them. They are concerned themselves."
When asked if any private talks were taking place with the US at this time, Araghchi replied, "No."
"We met last Thursday," noted Araghchi. "They [the Americans] were so happy when they left the negotiation table," adding that "I don't know what happened after they left."
The toll of the war on Iran
Earlier in the interview, Araghchi also argued that the recent US sinking of an Iranian battleship was a "war crime," claiming that the ship was unarmed at the time, to which Llamas replied, "What type of military would allow a battleship into the ocean with no weapons on board?"
"Because it was, you know, actually damaged," replied Araghchi.
Asked to address the Pentagon's claims that the US is "winning decisively," Araghchi responded that, "Six days after the war [began], it is clear that the US has failed to achieve its main goal, which was clear, rapid victory."
"They are trying to justify why they did attack us," Araghchi continued, "and they have presented so many different reasons, but none of them worked."
Llamas asked how Araghchi can claim that the US campaign was a "failure," given Iran's massive losses in the war.
"Your supreme leader was killed," said Llamas. "Your top military leaders were killed. Your military installations have been bombed. How can you call that a failure?"
"What have they achieved?" asked Araghchi. "What was their goal? They came here for regime change."
"The system is working," added Araghchi.