Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Tehran is prepared for the possibility of a US ground invasion and has no intention of seeking a ceasefire or negotiations with Washington as the war with the United States and Israel intensifies.
In a defiant interview with NBC News, Araghchi said Iran’s military had prepared for any scenario and warned that an American invasion would end badly for US forces.
“We are confident that we can confront them, and that would be a big disaster for them,” Araghchi told NBC News.
‘WE ARE WAITING FOR THEM’
Speaking from Tehran in a video interview with “NBC Nightly News” anchor Tom Llamas, Araghchi struck a combative tone when asked whether he feared a possible US ground invasion.
“No, we are waiting for them,” he said.
“When I said we are waiting for them, it didn’t mean that we are waiting for a continuation of the war,” he added. “But we have prepared ourselves to confront any scenario, any eventuality, any possibility, and we know that we can handle that.”
Araghchi said Iran had learned from previous conflicts and now believed its military was capable of confronting American forces if the war escalated to ground combat.
IRAN REJECTS CEASEFIRE AND NEGOTIATIONS
Araghchi also ruled out negotiations with Washington and said Tehran had not requested a ceasefire despite ongoing US and Israeli airstrikes across the country.
“The fact is that we don’t have any positive experience of negotiating with the United States. You know, especially with this administration. We negotiated twice last year and this year, and then in the middle of negotiations, they attacked us,” Araghchi said.
He said Iran had little trust in future diplomacy with the United States. He added, “So we see no reason why we should engage once again with those who have, who are not honest in negotiation, and they don’t and do not enter into negotiation in good faith.”
WAR WIDENS AFTER KHAMENEI’S DEATH
The conflict escalated sharply after sweeping US and Israeli airstrikes began last weekend, destroying large parts of Iran’s military infrastructure and killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Araghchi insisted the Iranian state remained stable despite the loss of its top leader.
“The system is working. The commanders have been replaced, and the supreme leader is going to be replaced soon,” he said.
The killing of Khamenei has created a power vacuum, with speculation that his son Mojtaba Khamenei could succeed him. Araghchi said the decision would ultimately be made by Iran’s Assembly of Experts.
CIVILIAN CASUALTIES DISPUTED
Araghchi also blamed the United States and Israel for an attack on an elementary school in Minab that Iranian officials say killed 171 children.
“This is what our military said. So it is either US or Israel. What is the difference?” he said.
The US military has said the incident is under investigation.
Araghchi also dismissed an Axios report that US President Donald Trump had suggested he should be involved in the selection of Iran’s next supreme leader.
“That is absolutely the business of Iranian people, and nobody can interfere,” he said.
Despite his defiant rhetoric, Araghchi said the war would likely produce no clear victor.
“There is no winner in this war,” he said. “Our win is to be able to resist against, you know, the illegal, you know, goals, and this is what we have done so far.”
