Newsletters
Iran's foreign minister said Sunday that his country is prepared to resume military conflict with the United States, even as he insisted Tehran has not given up on a diplomatic resolution, following President Donald Trump's public rejection of an Iranian proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
"We are fully prepared for the time for the war to be resumed, and I repeat, we stand firm in the face of any new aggression, even if it comes to a doomsday war," Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on NBC News' "Meet the Press," responding to a question about a Wall Street Journal report suggesting Trump could seek to resume bombing after the U.S. midterm elections. "At the same time, we stand ready for diplomacy. It is up to President Trump to choose."
The exchange followed reports that Iran had offered last week to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil chokepoint, and resume normal maritime passage within seven days. The proposal was conveyed to the United States through mediator Qatar on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Trump said Saturday he had turned down the offer. "I rejected their deal. They want to make a deal where they open the strait immediately because they're losing so badly," he told reporters.
Araghchi said Sunday that despite Trump's public remarks, the rejection had not yet been formally communicated to Tehran through mediators. He reaffirmed that Iran remains willing to reopen the strait as part of a broader agreement to end the conflict, but said Tehran expects reciprocal steps from Washington.
"We want our monies, our assets, which are illegally frozen, to be released. We want to be able to sell our oil," he said, describing the conditions as consistent with commitments the United States had already made in a memorandum of understanding the two countries signed in June. That agreement, which had outlined a temporary ceasefire, collapsed within days after both sides exchanged fresh strikes.
"If you ask us, there is no reason why we should go back to diplomacy," Araghchi said. "But I am still trying diplomacy because I think we shouldn't miss any chance for peace."
Speaking on the same program before Araghchi's interview, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said the proposal was rejected for "a number of reasons," including concerns that Iran would gain access to billions of dollars in frozen funds.
"I think this was a pretty cynical attempt to put something on the table that they knew was unacceptable, to ask for the release of the blockade, the sanctions, international sanctions and access to billions in assets," Waltz said. He also questioned "who's calling the shots in Iran right now," arguing that Tehran had already violated the June memorandum by attacking international shipping.
"I think it's kind of common sense that the president doesn't have a lot of confidence this time after we just tried a few months ago," Waltz said, adding that Trump would "leave all options on the table to ensure the world is safe from Iran holding the world hostage with a nuclear weapon."
Asked what terms Trump might accept, Waltz declined to specify, saying only, "I'm not going to negotiate for the president."
Trump said last week he was still weighing whether to "annihilate" Iran or reach an agreement, predicting that a deal was more likely after the November elections. "I believe we'll make a deal right after the election because it doesn't make sense for them not to," Trump said. "They're waiting to see how I do in the midterm election."
Araghchi rejected the suggestion that Iran's calculations are tied to the U.S. political calendar. "We don't care about U.S. midterm elections," he said. "We care about our national interests."
Polls currently show Democrats with an advantage heading into November. According to the latest NBC News Decision Desk Poll, 31% of respondents approved of Trump's handling of the Iran war, while 69% disapproved.
The Strait of Hormuz, situated between Iran and Oman, is one of the world's busiest oil transit routes, with roughly a fifth of global petroleum consumption passing through it. Iran has periodically threatened to close the waterway during past periods of tension with the West, though it has never fully done so.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
1 min read
1 min read
