Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Sunday that Iran was “fully prepared” for war with the United States to resume and would stand firm even if it led to a “doomsday war,” adding that Tehran remained open to diplomacy.
“We are fully prepared for the war to be resumed,” Araghchi told NBC’s Meet the Press. “We stand 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,” he added.
Araghchi said Iran was still awaiting an official US response through mediators to the proposal despite Trump saying he had rejected it. Under the plan, he said the Strait of Hormuz would reopen on the sixth day after agreed US steps, followed by talks on a final agreement on the seventh day.
Araghchi added that Iran’s stockpile of uranium enriched to 60% could be considered in future negotiations if Washington demonstrated “goodwill” and a “real determination for a peace.”
Asked why Iran needed uranium enriched to 60%, Araghchi said it was for “peaceful purposes” and argued that the enrichment was within Iran’s commitments under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
“We have not violated NPT,” he said. “We answered that question in the past during the negotiations, and we can do it again.”
On why Iran’s supreme leader had not released a video, Araghchi cited “security reasons” and said there were indications that he was under threat from the United States. He said the supreme leader remained “in full control” and that officials continued to receive his comments, orders and opinions.
