Iran ‘fully prepared’ for war to resume with US but still trying diplomacy: Araghchi
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says the Islamic Republic is fully prepared to resume the war with the United States while keeping the door open to diplomacy.
In an interview with NBC News on Sunday, Araghchi said Iran stands “firm in the face of any new aggression, even if it comes to a doomsday war.”
“At the same time, we stand ready for diplomacy. It is up to President Trump to choose.”
Araghchi made the remarks when asked about a Wall Street Journal report that US President Donald Trump could seek to resume bombing Iran after the US midterm elections.
The foreign minister said that the Iranian delegation had tried every diplomatic avenue during the meetings and through interviews on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
However, President Donald Trump’s “messages have been contradictory,” according to Araghchi.
Trump said on Saturday that he had rejected Iran’s proposal. But Araghchi told NBC News that despite Trump’s public comments, the rejection had not yet been officially communicated to Tehran through mediators.
He once again said that Iran was ready to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as part of an agreement to end the war, saying Tehran wanted the release of its frozen funds and assets and the ability to sell its oil.
Araghchi said those conditions were “not new” and were already part of previous US commitments, referring to the memorandum of understanding (MoU) that the two countries signed in June and which laid out plans for a temporary ceasefire.
That agreement, mediated by Pakistan, collapsed within days after the US refused to comply with its obligations under the MoU.
“If you ask us, there is no reason why we should go back to diplomacy,” Araghchi said. “But I am still trying diplomacy because I think we shouldn’t miss any chance for peace.”
“We don’t care about US midterm elections,” the Iranian foreign minister added. “We care about our national interests.”
Trump has threatened to “annihilate” Iran if a deal is not reached, while saying he expected an agreement after the US midterm elections.
Araghchi said earlier that there was no way forward other than a negotiated solution based on dignity and justice and ensuring the legitimate rights and demands of the Iranian people.
He said Iran had already demonstrated its power to the world in the military, diplomatic and economic spheres and in confronting sanctions.