Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said Tehran is prepared for a possible resumption of fighting with the United States while keeping the door open for diplomatic negotiations. Speaking to NBC News, Araghchi said Iran was ready to respond to renewed military action but was also prepared to pursue diplomacy.
The comments come amid continuing tensions between Washington and Tehran over the conflict and the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Iran has proposed a seven-day arrangement linked to reopening the waterway and broader negotiations.
Tehran has said it wants conditions including an end to military pressure, the release of frozen Iranian assets and the ability to resume oil sales.
Araghchi said the next step would depend on the US administration, while stressing that Iran had not closed the door to negotiations. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has publicly rejected Iran’s latest proposal but has also indicated that indirect talks could continue.
The developments have kept both military and diplomatic options in focus as Washington and Tehran face continued pressure over the conflict, the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear programme.
Araghchi also said Iran was seeking the release of frozen Iranian assets and the ability to resume oil sales as part of a negotiated settlement. He indicated that Tehran was still waiting for a formal response from Washington through diplomatic intermediaries, despite Trump’s public rejection of the proposal.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a central issue in the confrontation because of its importance to international energy shipments. Any prolonged disruption in the waterway could have wider implications for oil markets and regional trade.
Meanwhile, Trump has continued to make statements about the conflict and has not ruled out further military action. Reports on September 28 said he also expressed confidence that the conflict could end soon, while maintaining that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon remained a key US objective.
Araghchi’s latest comments therefore underline two positions being maintained by Tehran at the same time: preparation for renewed hostilities and continued willingness to explore diplomacy. The next steps are expected to depend on communication between the two sides and the role of mediating countries.
The developments come as international attention remains focused on the US-Iran confrontation, the Strait of Hormuz, nuclear negotiations and the potential impact of further escalation across the Middle East.