Even with United States forces positioned for a possible attack on Iran, the country’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, told CNN on Sunday that he is “confident” about the possibility of reaching an agreement with the US on Tehran’s nuclear program.
“Unfortunately, we have lost our confidence in the United States as a negotiating partner,” he said, adding that the exchange of messages through friendly countries in the region has facilitated “fruitful” conversations with the US.
There was a similar sign of optimism on the American side this weekend. Aboard Air Force One on Saturday, Iran was “talking to us, talking seriously to us.”
By refusing to promise that Iran would participate in direct negotiations with American representatives, Araghchi highlighted the need to address “the substance of negotiations,” not the form.
The statements were made at a time when the , warning that any US attack on Iran would result in a regional war.
Khamenei told a crowd at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Mosque on Sunday that Iran does not “intend to attack any country, but the Iranian nation will deal a firm blow to anyone who attacks or harasses it,” according to state media.
“Americans must know that if they start a war, this time it will be a regional war,” he said, publishing similar comments on X.
Progress towards resuming negotiations appears to have come up against Iran’s demands that the talks focus on nuclear issues — and the US refusal to reduce its large military presence in the region, which weighs heavily on any diplomatic effort.
Questioned by CNN about Iran’s extensive missile arsenal — which is believed to have been largely rebuilt after last year’s war with Israel — and about the country’s regional allies, such as the Yemen-based Houthis, who have been harassing regional shipping, Araghchi said the focus should be on Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
“Let’s not talk about impossible things,” he said. “And let’s not miss the opportunity to reach a fair and balanced agreement to ensure no nuclear weapons. As I said, this is achievable even in a short period of time.”
In return, Araghchi said Tehran expects the lifting of U.S. sanctions — which have been a burden on the Iranian economy for more than a decade — as well as respect for Iran’s right to continue nuclear enrichment for peaceful purposes.
If talks fail, Iran would be ready for war, Araghchi promised, although a conflict would likely spread beyond the country, echoing Khamenei’s comments.
But a war “would be a disaster for everyone,” Araghchi said, adding that American bases across the region would be targets for Iranian forces, which had already noted the limitations and strengths of its missile arsenal in the 12-day war against Israel last year.
Human rights groups estimate that at least several thousand people were killed in , prompting Trump to warn Tehran that the US would carry out attacks against the regime.
Trump declined Saturday to say whether he had decided on a possible military strike against Iran.
“Some people think so. Some people don’t,” Trump said when asked about concerns that backing down from an attack could embolden Tehran.
Trump again refused to provide details about a possible military attack, repeating comments he had made previously.
“I certainly can’t tell you this, but we have very large and powerful ships heading in that direction,” he said. “As you know, I can’t say. I hope they negotiate something that is acceptable.”
Regional efforts to avoid conflict have involved intense diplomatic activity in recent days, including a visit to Tehran by Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani on Saturday.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said the two sides “reviewed ongoing efforts to reduce tensions in the region.”
There was also, on Saturday, a telephone conversation between Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Egyptian leader Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, who “reiterated Egypt’s persistent efforts to bring the United States and Iran back to the negotiating table,” according to a statement from the Egyptian Presidency.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran has never sought, nor seeks in any way, war, and is firmly convinced that a conflict would be in the interests of neither Iran, nor the United States, nor the region,” Pezeshkian told Sisi, according to the Iranian presidency.
Internal revolt in Iran
On the streets of Tehran, the violent repression of January’s protests is at the center of the population’s concerns.
Asked about the government’s response, Araghchi blamed “terrorist elements” who would receive orders from abroad for inciting dissent and provoking violence, as Khamenei and Iranian state media have claimed throughout the crisis.
Speaking about the violent height of the protests, he said: “We consider these three days as the continuation of those 12 days of war, which was an operation led by the Mossad from abroad and which, naturally, we crushed.”
“There was no plan to execute or hang” protesters, he said, denying Trump’s claim that he had received assurances from Iran that executions would be stopped.
“I can confirm that the rights of every person arrested and detained will be respected and guaranteed,” he said.
