Diplomatic Interactions

Diplomatic Interactions

Iran’s Diplomatic Discourse in the June 2025 Crisis: A Discursive Resistance Analysis Against Structural Inequality

Document Type : Original Article

Author
Amin SadeqiBakyani
PhD, Department of Political Science, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
10.22034/dpiq.2026.565473.1066
Abstract
Introduction 
In contemporary international relations, diplomacy has transformed from a purely institutional practice into a dynamic discursive arena where power, meaning, and ideology intersect dialectically. This shift is especially pronounced for states like the Islamic Republic of Iran, which operates under sustained geopolitical pressure and seeks to construct an alternative, resistance-oriented foreign policy discourse. Following the military aggression by the Zionist regime against Iran in June 2025, Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi, articulated a series of official statements, letters, speeches, and social media posts that constitute a strategic, multi-layered diplomatic response. This study seeks to analyze this discourse through Norman Fairclough’s (2009) Dialectical-Relational Approach to Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), which treats discourse not merely as text but as a form of social practice embedded within—and actively reshaping—structures of power, ideology, and global inequality.
Research Objectives
Existing scholarship on Iran’s foreign policy has explored the notion of “resistance discourse” from historical, strategic, and ideological angles (Wu & Moshirzadeh, 2025; Karemefard, 2025; Koohkan et al., 2020). However, most studies either adopt a macro-level theoretical stance or focus on the speeches of top leadership, overlooking the nuanced, crisis-driven articulation of diplomatic discourse by operational actors such as foreign ministers. A limited number of works have applied Fairclough’s CDA to Iranian diplomatic texts (e.g., Rahimi Tehrani & Chalak, 2021; Asadi, 2014), but none have examined a full corpus of texts produced in direct response to a military attack. Moreover, prior research often neglects the triadic interplay between textual strategies, discursive practices (e.g., multi-channel dissemination), and the sociopolitical context of global hegemony—precisely the gap this study addresses.
Methodology 
This research employs a qualitative design grounded in Fairclough’s (2009) three-dimensional CDA framework: (1) textual analysis, (2) discourse practice, and (3) sociocultural practice. The data consist of 14 publicly available texts issued by Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi between June 13 and 21, 2025, including formal letters to the UN Security Council and the IAEA, official statements, diplomatic speeches, and posts on the X (formerly Twitter) platform. Data were collected through document analysis and coded using NVivo 14 software. The analytical process followed three stages: open coding (identifying surface themes), axial coding (grouping codes into conceptual categories), and selective coding (extracting core discursive strategies). Trustworthiness was ensured through peer debriefing, dual coding by independent researchers, and thick description of contextual nuances.
Results 
The analysis reveals four core thematic clusters that structure Araqchi’s discourse: (1) legitimate self-defense, anchored in Article 51 of the UN Charter and the NPT; (2) illegal aggression, framed as a “heinous violation” of international law and a “crime against humanity”; (3) destroyed diplomacy, emphasizing that Iran was engaged in negotiations (e.g., Muscat talks) when the attack occurred; and (4) Western hypocrisy and injustice, highlighting the structural double standards of Western powers and international institutions. Linguistically, the discourse combines formal legal terminology with moral metaphors (“diplomacy was destroyed,” “shameful silence”) and binary oppositions (“us/them,” “victim/aggressor,” “justice/hypocrisy”). Strategically, texts were disseminated through both formal channels (UN, IAEA) and digital platforms (X) to simultaneously target international institutions, global public opinion—particularly the Islamic world—and domestic audiences. Reception analysis indicates strong solidarity from Muslim-majority states, muted responses from Western governments, and procedural inaction by international bodies.
Discussion 
Araqchi’s discourse functions not merely as a reactive justification but as an intentional act of resistance discourse aimed at challenging the hegemonic Western narrative that delegitimizes non-Western sovereignty. By invoking universally recognized legal norms while exposing their selective enforcement, Iran repositions itself from a “threat” to a “victim of illegal aggression,” thereby subverting the dominant security discourse. The use of digital diplomacy (e.g., X posts) alongside traditional channels reflects a hybrid strategy that bypasses Western-controlled media and appeals directly to transnational publics. This approach aligns with Fairclough’s view of discourse as both shaped by and shaping social structures: even as Iran operates within an unequal international order, it leverages language to carve out discursive space for justice, resistance, and alternative legitimacy. However, the actual efficacy of this discourse remains constrained by structural power imbalances—Western media and institutions largely marginalized or reframed Iran’s narrative.
Conclusion 
This study demonstrates that Iran’s diplomatic discourse in the aftermath of military aggression constitutes a sophisticated, multi-dimensional strategy of discursive resistance. It simultaneously legitimizes defensive action, delegitimizes the aggressor, exposes systemic double standards, and constructs an alternative geopolitical imaginary centered on justice and South-South solidarity. While the discourse may not immediately transform material power relations, it performs a crucial symbolic function: asserting moral agency in a world where the “right to speak” is as contested as the “right to defend.” Future research should examine audience reception more systematically and compare Iran’s discursive strategies with those of other Global South actors facing similar asymmetries.
Keywords
Critical discourse analysis, Diplomacy, Iran, Resistance, Self-defense, Western hypocrisy
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