WAR AND DIPLOMACY: Iran Says It Is Ready for ‘Doomsday War’ With U.S. — While Still Pushing Cease-Fire Deal
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declared Sunday that Tehran is prepared to wage a “doomsday war” against the United States if necessary, even as he insisted that Iran remains interested in diplomacy and continues to seek a cease-fire agreement rejected by President Trump.
“We stand firm in the face of any aggression against us, even when it comes to a doomsday war,” Araghchi told NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday. “At the same time, we are ready for diplomacy.”
Araghchi defended Tehran’s proposed seven-day cease-fire, describing it as a “very reasonable plan on the table,” despite Trump’s rejection of the proposal.
Under the reported terms of the Iranian offer, Washington would unfreeze approximately $12 billion in Iranian assets, ease sanctions and bring an end to the blockade. In return, Iran would agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump rejected those terms, while senior administration officials maintained that Tehran’s proposal required the United States to provide too many concessions at the outset.
“They want to make a deal to open the Hormuz Strait immediately because they’re losing so badly,” Trump told reporters on Saturday.
Other administration officials, including U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz, have questioned whether Tehran could be trusted to honor another cease-fire. They have pointed to Iranian attacks on vessels traveling through the Strait of Hormuz while an earlier Memorandum of Understanding was still in effect.
Araghchi, however, indicated that Tehran does not consider the matter completely settled and is awaiting a formal response through diplomatic channels.
“I have to say that although we heard from President Trump that he is rejecting this deal, but we are still waiting for an official response through the mediators,” Araghchi noted.
Iran has targeted vessels traveling through portions of the Strait of Hormuz near the Iranian coastline. The Trump administration, meanwhile, says ships have continued moving through the strategically critical waterway by traveling along routes closer to Oman.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright has said that oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have climbed to nearly the levels seen before the war. The waterway historically handled nearly one-fifth of the world’s seaborne oil supplies. According to Wright, elevated petroleum prices are now being driven largely by refining problems rather than an inability to move crude through the strait.
Diplomatic efforts continued on the sidelines of last week’s United Nations General Assembly, where special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Iranian negotiators for roughly three hours. The talks, however, produced little public evidence of a significant breakthrough.
Trump has also left open the prospect of dramatically intensifying military action against Iran. The Wall Street Journal reported that the president is weighing a major escalation following the midterm elections. For now, the administration has continued applying economic pressure through the blockade and the Treasury Department’s Operation Economic Outcast.
Araghchi warned that if the United States launches another round of strikes, Tehran believes it is now better positioned to respond than it was during previous fighting.
“We are fully prepared for that,” the foreing minister said. “We have learned our lesson from the two previous wars, and we have corrected our tactics. We have changed our tactics, and we are fully prepared to do that.”
Despite his threats of a massive confrontation, Araghchi maintained that Iran has not closed the door on negotiations. At the same time, he accused Washington of undermining Tehran’s confidence in the diplomatic process, citing U.S. military operations that took place while negotiations were underway.
“There is always hope for diplomacy,” Araghchi said. “But to be honest with you, we have no reason to come back to diplomacy and engage with this administration once again, because of how they’ve behaved in the past two years.”
Araghchi was also questioned about the condition and whereabouts of Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who has remained out of public view since Israeli strikes killed his father and reportedly left him seriously wounded.
“Well, there are security concerns, and you’re well aware of that. You know, our Supreme Leader was illegally assassinated during the last war. And I think it is very logical that we protect our leader in any way,” Araghchi said.
“We are all in one front, facing all challenges imposed on us by the US, by the sanctions or military operations.”
Araghchi insisted that Khamenei continues to exercise authority over Iran and said security considerations explain why Tehran has not released even a video showing the supreme leader publicly.
