Iran’s foreign ministry denounced the Middle East section of Washington’s newly released national security strategy on Sunday, with spokesman Esmail Baghaei calling it Israel’s national security document while saying Tehran would nonetheless study the text.
“The Islamic Republic would examine the strategy, but at first glance, it is clear the White House continues to pursue the same objectives of previous US administrations,” Baghaei told reporters at his weekly briefing.
“Washington had focused all its efforts on imposing Israeli domination over the region.”
Tehran rejects US characterization of Iran
The document, published late Thursday, appears to downplay the scale of the threat from Iran and offers only cursory references to Tehran.
“Iran – the region’s chief destabilizing force – has been greatly weakened by Israeli actions since October 7, 2023, and President Trump’s June 2025 Operation Midnight Hammer, which significantly degraded Iran’s nuclear program,” the document reads.
“America will always have core interests in ensuring that Gulf energy supplies do not fall into the hands of an outright enemy, and that the Strait of Hormuz remain open,” it added.
During the 12-day conflict in 2025, the United States and Israel carried out coordinated attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities. US president Donald Trump has repeatedly said that strikes on Natanz, Fordow and Isfahan destroyed Iran’s program.
Hezbollah and Lebanon tensions surface
Baghaei also addressed growing international demands for Hezbollah’s disarmament. The group, he said, “decides for itself regarding its behavior and policies,” rejecting Iranian interference in Lebanon’s internal affairs.
He declined to comment on reports that Lebanese foreign minister Youssef Raji had turned down an invitation to visit Iran. Foreign minister Abbas Araghchi invited Raji on December 4 for consultations on bilateral ties and regional developments, and Raji said he would respond through diplomatic channels. Israel’s Ynet reported that Raji favored meeting Araghchi in a “neutral country.”
“The disarmament of Hezbollah and the dismantling of its military structure are Lebanese demands, independent of international requests,” Raji told Al Arabiya on Saturday. New Gallup polling shows strong Lebanese backing for a unified national force: about 79 percent of respondents said only the Lebanese army should possess weapons.
