OMM Redaksiyası
Iran is ready to negotiate with the United States but is also “fully prepared” to respond to renewed military attacks, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday, according to NBC’s Meet the Press.
Araghchi said Tehran had presented a seven-day proposal that could lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping route. He added that Iran was still awaiting an official response through mediators after US President Donald Trump rejected the plan publicly.
Iran’s conditions for reopening the strait
Under the proposal, Washington would first have to take steps demanded by Tehran, including ending the war, releasing frozen Iranian assets, lifting 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,” Araghchi said.
He said the United States could fulfil the requirements within four or five days. Iran would then reopen the strait on the sixth day, followed by the resumption of negotiations on a final agreement on the seventh day.
Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz after US-Israeli attacks in February and a maritime blockade imposed on the country, Araghchi said.
Iran expresses distrust of Washington
The foreign minister said Tehran deeply distrusted negotiations with the Trump administration, accusing Washington of attacking Iran during talks in both 2025 and 2026 and of violating a subsequent agreement shortly after it was signed.
“There is always hope for diplomacy,” Araghchi said. “But I am still trying diplomacy because I think we shouldn’t miss any chance for peace.”
Asked whether he trusted Trump, he replied: “We trust ourselves.”
Araghchi denied that Iran had first violated a June memorandum of understanding with the United States. He said Washington could have used a dispute-settlement mechanism in the interim agreement if it believed Tehran had breached the deal, rather than launching air strikes.
On the possibility of further US attacks, Araghchi said Iran had learned from previous 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 if it comes to a doomsday war. But at the same time, we stand ready for diplomacy.”
He said the choice between renewed military action and negotiations rested with Trump.
Nuclear programme and leadership security
Araghchi maintained that Iran’s uranium enrichment programme was intended for “peaceful” purposes, including medical applications. He said Tehran had offered to negotiate over its stockpile of uranium enriched to 60%.
Iran had decided to leave nuclear issues for later stages and focus initially on confidence-building measures, he said, explaining why the nuclear programme was excluded from the seven-day proposal. According to Araghchi, the issue should be resolved through negotiations rather than military action.
Asked why Iran’s supreme leader had not appeared publicly on video since taking power in March, Araghchi cited security concerns and said there were indications that the leader faced threats from the United States.
“We receive his comments and orders and opinions,” he said.
Araghchi also rejected claims that Iran had competing centres of power, saying the Foreign Ministry coordinated with the government, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Supreme National Security Council and parliament.
