Iran’s daily Kayhan, overseen by a representative of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, has called for a shift in the country’s foreign policy from “engagement” to “power building,” arguing that decades of diplomatic outreach to the West have failed to secure Iran’s national interests.
In a commentary published on Monday, the paper said Iran’s long-standing policy of détente -- adopted since the 1990s -- was based on “unrealistic optimism” about the international system and “has not sustainably guaranteed the country’s national security.”
The article described the current approach as interaction-oriented and said it must be replaced by a power-oriented doctrine focused on strengthening military, economic, and technological capabilities to deter foreign pressure.
Citing the experience of the 2015 nuclear deal, Kayhan said Western powers exploited Iran’s transparency to intensify sanctions and political leverage, concluding that “national security cannot be achieved through trust in adversaries, but through active deterrence and national cohesion.”
The call for a “paradigm shift” aligns with the growing dominance of hardline narratives within Tehran’s policymaking circles, which advocate a move away from engagement with the US and Europe toward self-reliance and expanded regional influence.
“They have no nuclear capability, no,” Trump said in a CBS 60 Minutes interview aired on Sunday, adding that he had “blasted the hell out of” Iran and praising US pilots for operations he said were conducted in Iranian airspace.
Trump said progress on Arab-Israeli normalization would have been impossible “if you had a nuclear Iran,” arguing that curbing Tehran’s capabilities was a prerequisite for any agreement.
He added, “You could’ve never had any kind of a deal if you had a nuclear Iran… And I blasted the hell out of ’em,” while also saying the United States halted operations, characterizing his decisions as calibrated to deter Tehran while preserving space for diplomacy. “We stopped,” he said. “When it was time to stop, we stopped.”
The president described Iran as wanting an agreement even if they don’t say it, and cast a potential understanding with Tehran as “the key to peace in the Middle East.” He did not outline new diplomatic proposals or timelines.
Iranian officials have long rejected US accusations about nuclear ambitions, saying enrichment and related activities support power generation and medical research. The International Atomic Energy Agency has previously urged Tehran to address questions about its program.
Trump’s remarks come as Washington and regional partners weigh next steps on containment and possible talks with Tehran amid intermittent back-channel messaging.
Hamid Rasai made the remarks during Sunday’s parliamentary session without providing evidence, reviving hardline criticism over dual nationality among senior officials.
“First I spoke directly with Mr. Aref and told him that if you have any plan to revoke your child’s German citizenship, we will remain silent and wait. He replied: ‘No, I do not interfere in my children’s affairs'," Rasai told the parliament.
"I told him: ‘Mr. Aref, the law interferes in our affairs.’ After that, I filed the matter. Why is it not being pursued after six months? The Court of Audit has also confirmed the issue.”
The remarks come amid ongoing efforts by Iran’s ultra-conservatives to undermine Pezeshkian’s cabinet and figures such as former foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who has faced similar scrutiny over his son’s US citizenship.
A 2022 law prohibits individuals with dual nationality -- or those whose spouses or children hold it -- from occupying “sensitive positions,” though Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s office has previously signaled flexibility, saying automatic citizenship by birth abroad should not disqualify officials.
Despite that, hardliners have continued to challenge the government over the issue, viewing it as part of a broader fight against Pezeshkian’s reformist-leaning team.
Ghalibaf said any foreign platform seeking to operate in Iran must comply with domestic laws and regulations set by the Supreme Council of Cyberspace.
“If a platform does not accept internal regulations, it will not receive a license,” he told parliament after a lawmaker said the administration of President Masoud Pezeshkian had signed an agreement with Telegram that had yet to be reviewed by the council.
Under existing policy, a nine-member committee oversees whether foreign platforms adhere to Iranian cyber regulations, including cooperation with judicial authorities and removal of content deemed threatening to national security or public morals.
The reports of a Telegram deal surfaced after the Mehr news agency said Tehran had outlined conditions for lifting the app’s years-long ban, including blocking posts that incite ethnic tensions and assisting the judiciary with user data requests.
Telegram, which has been blocked since 2018 following anti-government protests, remains widely used through virtual private networks despite restrictions.
The alleged talks prompted criticism in parliament, where lawmakers warned that any agreement with Telegram must first be approved by the legislative body. One MP threatened to seek the impeachment of the communications minister if a deal were concluded without parliamentary consent.
