Abbas Araghchi says Iran prepared for war but open to talks

Araghchi Weighs Readiness for Conflict and Continued Talks

Speaking to NBC News’ “Meet the Press” on Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi outlined Tehran’s dual stance on the ongoing crisis. He addressed a Wall Street Journal report indicating that President Donald Trump could seek to resume military bombing campaigns after the U.S. midterm elections.

“We are fully prepared for the war to be resumed. We stand firm in the face of any new aggression, even if it comes to a doomsday war,” Araghchi told moderator Kristen Welker. At the same time, he emphasized that Iran remains open to negotiations. “At the same time, we stand ready for diplomacy. It is up to President Trump to choose.”

The diplomatic push follows an Iranian proposal conveyed to the U.S. through mediator Qatar on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The plan offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz—a critical global oil chokepoint—and resume normal maritime passage within seven days.

Trump Rejects Deal While Iran Sets Financial Terms

President Donald Trump publicly rejected the overture on Saturday. Speaking to reporters, Trump stated, “I rejected their deal. They want to make a deal where they open the strait immediately because they’re losing so badly.”

Despite those public remarks, Araghchi noted that the rejection had not yet been formally communicated to Iran via mediators. He reaffirmed that reopening the transit route depends on a broader agreement to end the conflict, demanding the release of frozen funds and permission to export petroleum.

“We want our monies, our assets, which are illegally frozen, to be released. We want to be able to sell our oil,” Araghchi said. He added that these conditions mirror the memorandum of understanding signed by both nations in June, which ultimately collapsed after fresh strikes were exchanged just days later.

U.S. Officials Cite Violations and Reject Sanction Relief

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz defended the administration’s decision on “Meet the Press,” stating that the proposal was turned down for a “number of reasons.” Waltz argued that the U.S. could not permit Iran access to billions in frozen assets.

“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 pointed to past violations of the June memorandum of understanding, citing previous attacks on international shipping.

“What I can tell you is the president will leave all options on the table to ensure the world is safe from Iran holding the world hostage with a nuclear weapon,” Waltz added.

Political Stakes and Public Opinion Surrounding the Conflict

Iranian leadership has downplayed the domestic political calendar in Washington. “We don’t care about U.S. midterm elections,” Araghchi said. “We care about our national interests.”

President Trump previously stated he was weighing whether to “annihilate” Iran or secure an agreement, noting he believes a deal will materialize after the vote. Meanwhile, polling data from the NBC News Decision Desk indicates that 31% of respondents approve of Trump’s handling of the conflict, while 69% disapprove as Democrats maintain an advantage heading into November.

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