Iran ready for war with US, hopes for a deal — Foreign Minister
Photo: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (Getty Images)
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated in an interview with CNN that, despite US forces being ready to launch a strike, he is confident that Tehran and Washington can still reach an agreement on Iran's nuclear program.
The minister emphasized that war is not inevitable and can be avoided. According to him, Iran counts on a deal, but if negotiations fail, it will be ready for a new war.
He added that a war would be a disaster for everyone, warning that US bases would become targets for Iranian forces.
"Let's not talk about impossible things, and not lose the opportunity to achieve a fair and equitable deal to ensure no nuclear weapons. That, as I said, is achievable even in a short period of time," Araghchi stated.
The minister also noted that a major obstacle in negotiations with the US is the lack of trust. He stressed that dialogue would only be possible if at least minimal trust is restored.
Tehran expects the lifting of US sanctions, which have burdened the Iranian economy for over a decade, as well as recognition of Iran's right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes.
Meanwhile, Axios journalist Barak Ravid reports that Türkiye, Egypt, and Qatar are preparing a meeting next week in Ankara between Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and senior Iranian officials.
Potential US-Iran war
Recently, The Wall Street Journal reported that US President Donald Trump ordered his team to explore options for rapid military actions against Iran, designed to be decisive without dragging the US into a prolonged Middle East war.
According to The New York Times, Trump was presented with several expanded strike scenarios, including a potential ground invasion.
On February 1, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that any US attack would trigger a "regional war" across the Middle East.
