Iran Ready for 'Apocalyptic War' Yet Open to Diplomacy, Says Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Iran will remain steadfast "in the face of any aggression, even if it comes to an apocalyptic war," according to a recent social media post.

Earlier in the day, Mr Araghchi noted that Tehran was still awaiting an official US response through mediators regarding its proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days. He emphasized that Iran remained ready for diplomacy despite enduring repeated attacks during previous negotiation rounds.

Mr Araghchi outlined that Iran is prepared to reopen the strait provided the US meets certain conditions, including ending the "war of aggression," releasing frozen Iranian assets, and allowing Tehran to resume selling its oil. Speaking to NBC, he stated, “Our proposal is very clear. We are ready to open the strait if certain things are done by the US, and these certain things are not new. These are our rights that we want to be respected.”

He questioned Washington's reluctance to release Iranian funds ahead of the reopening, reiterating that the money rightfully belongs to Iran. While stating that diplomacy has not failed, Mr Araghchi expressed skepticism about returning to talks with the current US administration due to prior attacks. "Iran nonetheless remains steadfast in the face of any aggression, even if it comes to an apocalyptic war. At the same time, we are ready for real diplomacy," he remarked.

Recalling past diplomatic efforts, he mentioned that in 2025 and again in February 2026, Iran accepted negotiation offers only to be attacked mid-talks. Despite Washington breaching agreements, Tehran remains willing to pursue peace to avoid missing an opportunity.

Meanwhile, US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz stated on CNN that President Donald Trump remains skeptical of Iran's intentions, arguing that Tehran was demanding too much upfront relief from sanctions under Operation Economic Fury and United Nations snapback sanctions.

Mr Waltz also cited alleged breaches of a June ceasefire agreement and international shipping attacks by Iran as reasons for mistrust. In response, Mr Araghchi countered that the US had violated the deal first and questioned why Washington resorted to bombing instead of using the dispute settlement mechanism.

When asked about his trust in US President Donald Trump, Mr Araghchi responded, “We trust ourselves.” In a separate phone interview with Axios, President Trump indicated he expects US negotiators to hold further talks with Iran in the upcoming days.