Iran says it remains open to diplomacy but prepared for war as mistrust with Washington blocks efforts to end the conflict.

Iran is prepared for both diplomacy and war, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Monday, as Tehran seeks an end to the conflict but says a lack of trust in Washington remains the main obstacle to negotiations.

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In an interview with U.S. broadcaster NBC, Araghchi said Iran would stand firm against any aggression, including the prospect of what he called an “apocalyptic war.”

Tehran still wants to end what Araghchi described as the “war of aggression” against Iran, he said, while maintaining that there is little basis for renewed engagement with the current U.S. administration.

“There is always hope for diplomacy,” Araghchi said, while arguing that Washington’s conduct over the past two years had left Iran with little reason to resume talks or interact with the administration.

The foreign minister said the United States had attacked Iranian territory in 2025 and 2026 while the two countries were maintaining diplomatic contacts.

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Una publicación compartida por Al Jazeera English (@aljazeeraenglish)

Iran’s proposal for renewed talks

On the sidelines of last week’s United Nations General Assembly, Iran proposed reopening the Strait of Hormuz within seven days and resuming nuclear negotiations.

In exchange, Tehran called for the United States to lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports, suspend sanctions on Iranian crude and restore the ceasefire.

Araghchi later wrote on X that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and he had traveled to New York to pursue peace rather than war. He made the comment while sharing the NBC interview.

The conflict involving the United States and Israel and Iran has entered its eighth month and remains deadlocked. Washington has intensified sanctions, while Iran has carried out occasional attacks against oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.

Araghchi said Tehran remains prepared to pursue diplomacy while also standing ready to confront further military escalation.

From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.