TEHRAN - The Iranian foreign minister on Thursday described as "audacious" UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres’ remarks about Iran's peaceful nuclear activities, reaffirming Tehran’s “longstanding commitment” to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

In a post on X, Abbas Araghchi censured Guterres for preaching Iran for its civilian nuclear program and even signed the nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, (JCPOA), but was abandoned by the United States.

Araghchi also pointed to a fatwa (religious decree) by Leader of the Islamic Revolution that bans the production, possession and stockpiling of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) including nuclear weapons. 

"It is audacious to preach that Iranians must ‘once and for all make it clear that they will renounce to have nuclear weapons’," the foreign minister pointed out. 

The chief diplomat added, "Iran's longstanding commitment to the global nonproliferation regime is clear."

Speaking about the situation in West Asia at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday, the UN secretary general said Iran must make it clear that it does not seek to build nuclear arms, saying, “The most relevant question is Iran and relations between Iran, Israel and the United States.”

The UN chief added, “Here my hope is that the Iranians understand that it is important to once and for all make it clear that they will renounce to have nuclear weapons, at the same time that they engage constructively with the other countries of the region.”

The Iranian foreign minister also noted that the most relevant question regarding the region is Israel's genocidal war on the Gaza Strip, as well as the regime's occupation of Palestinian, the Syrian and Lebanese territories.

He further warned of the threat posed by Israel's nuclear arsenal and its refusal to join the NPT.

Israel is estimated to possess 200 nuclear warheads, making it the sole possessor of non-conventional arms in West Asia.

The Israeli regime does not allow inspections of its nuclear facilities and rebuffed a Middle East without nuclear weapons.

 Araghchi calls for protection of minority groups in Syria during phone call with Turkish counterpart

In a phone call with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi emphasized the importance of safeguarding the rights of minority groups in Syria under the country’s new leadership.

The two diplomats discussed a range of issues, including the evolving situation in Syria and the state of bilateral relations between their countries.

Araghchi reiterated Iran’s unwavering commitment to supporting Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, a core pillar of the country’s foreign policy. He stressed the necessity of halting the ongoing conflicts between various factions in Syria, advocating for an inclusive government that represents all of the country’s diverse political, ethnic, and religious groups.

Expressing concern over reports of actions taken by certain armed factions against civilians in regions predominantly inhabited by Shias and Alawites, Araghchi called for an end to violence targeting these communities. He specifically referred to troubling reports about militant groups, including the Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, which seized control of Damascus on December 8.

In the aftermath of Assad’s downfall, Syria has seen significant military escalations. Israel has launched multiple attacks, destroying Syrian naval vessels, sea-to-sea missiles, helicopters, and planes, including the entire fleet of MiG-29 fighter jets. These strikes have targeted key Syrian military installations, including several air bases.