By Gloria Ogbonna
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Monday that Tehran remains open to negotiations with the United States, even as President Donald Trump warned that Washington could take decisive action against the Iranian regime over the killing of protesters during recent unrest.
Trump revealed on Sunday that a meeting with Iranian officials was being arranged but cautioned that events on the ground could force the United States to act before any talks take place. “A meeting is being set up,” Trump said, adding that “we may have to act because of what’s happening before the meeting.”
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump claimed Iran had initiated contact and was eager to negotiate following sustained U.S. pressure. “Iran called, they want to negotiate. I think they’re tired of being beat up by the United States. Iran wants to negotiate with us,” the president said.
He also condemned reports of civilians being killed, questioning the legitimacy of Iran’s leadership and accusing it of ruling through violence. According to Trump, the U.S. military is actively reviewing “very strong options,” and a final decision will be made after careful consideration.
When pressed by a CNN reporter on whether he believed Iran was taking his warnings seriously, Trump sharply dismissed the question as “stupid,” arguing that years of decisive U.S. action should have erased any doubt.
He cited the killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, the elimination of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and the destruction of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure as evidence that U.S. threats under his administration are credible.
Soleimani, a central figure in Iran’s regional military operations, was killed in a U.S. airstrike in January 2020 while planning attacks on American forces in Iraq. Al-Baghdadi died during a U.S. special forces operation in October 2019. More recently, in June 2025, American bombers destroyed Iran’s three major uranium enrichment facilities.
All of these actions were authorized by President Trump and are frequently cited by the administration as proof of its hard-line approach to national security.
In an interview with Al Jazeera Arabic on Monday, Araghchi warned that Iran would respond if Washington chose to “test the military option it has tested before.”
However, he expressed hope that Trump would opt for dialogue instead, urging the president to choose what he called the “wise option” of negotiations rather than listening to voices “trying to drag Washington into war in order to serve Israel’s interests.”
Anticipating skepticism over Iran’s ability to respond militarily—particularly after the U.S. destroyed its uranium enrichment facilities last summer—Araghchi asserted that Iran has since completed a “large and extensive military preparedness program.”
He claimed the country would be far better prepared if hostilities were to erupt again.
Despite the tough rhetoric, Araghchi reiterated Iran’s willingness to return to nuclear negotiations, provided talks are conducted without threats or ultimatums. “We are ready to sit at the nuclear negotiating table,” he said, stressing that dialogue must be based on mutual respect rather than coercion.
Araghchi also disclosed that he has been in contact with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff both before and after the recent protests. Iranian authorities maintain that the uprising was effectively suppressed by Sunday night, following days of violence that reportedly included numerous killings carried out during a four-day nationwide internet blackout.
According to Axios, two sources familiar with the matter said Araghchi reached out to Witkoff over the weekend in an effort to de-escalate tensions and dissuade the Trump administration from intervening on behalf of the protesters.
The outreach reportedly included an offer to meet Witkoff in the near future, signaling that behind the public brinkmanship, quiet diplomatic channels remain active.
Source Breitbart
Original article
Comments