Iran says ready for diplomacy but ‘fully prepared’ for war if US attacks

Iran is ready to negotiate with the US but “fully prepared” to respond to renewed military attacks, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Sunday, as he outlined a seven-day proposal under which Tehran could reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

“We are ready for diplomacy. We are ready for war at the same time,” Araghchi told NBC’s Meet the Press.

Araghchi said Iran had heard President Donald Trump reject the proposal but was “still waiting for an official response through the mediators.”

He said Tehran would reopen the strait if Washington first took steps Iran has sought, including ending the war, releasing frozen Iranian assets, removing the blockade and allowing Iran to sell its oil.

“Our proposal is very clear. We are ready to open the strait if certain things are done by the US,” he said.

Araghchi said he believed the US could take the required steps within four or five days. Under the proposed sequence, Iran would reopen the strait on day six and the two sides would resume negotiations on a final agreement on day seven.

Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint, following US-Israeli attacks in February and a maritime blockade on the country.

Distrust

The Iranian minister expressed deep distrust of negotiations with the Trump administration, accusing Washington of attacking Iran during talks in both 2025 and 2026, and violating a subsequent agreement shortly after it was signed.

“There is always hope for diplomacy,” he said. “But I am still trying diplomacy because I think we shouldn’t miss any chance for peace.”

Asked whether he trusted Trump, Araghchi replied: “We trust ourselves.”

Araghchi disputed that Iran had violated the June memorandum of understanding with the US first, saying if Washington believed Tehran had done so, it could have invoked a dispute-settlement provision in their interim deal instead of bombing Iran.

Asked about the prospect of further US strikes, Araghchi said Iran had learned from earlier fighting and changed its military tactics.

“We are fully prepared for the time for the war to be resumed,” he said. “We stand firm in the face of any new aggression, even it comes to a doomsday war. But at the same time, we stand ready for diplomacy.”

He said the decision between renewed military action and negotiations was up to Trump.

On Iran’s nuclear program, Araghchi maintained that enrichment was for “peaceful” purposes, including medical uses, and said Iran had offered to negotiate over its 60%-enriched material.

“We decided to put everything nuclear for the later stages and go for confidence building in this stage,” he said, explaining why the issue was not part of the initial seven-day proposal.

He argued that questions about Iran’s nuclear program should be settled through negotiations rather than military action.

Asked about why Iran’s supreme leader had not appeared publicly on video since taking power in March, Araghchi cited security concerns, saying there were indications he faced threats from the US.

“We receive his comments and orders and opinions,” Araghchi said.

He rejected suggestions of competing centers of power in Iran, saying the Foreign Ministry coordinated with the government, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Supreme National Security Council and parliament.