Iran is bracing for potential conflict with the US if diplomatic efforts fail to quell protests in the country. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made the warning after US President Donald Trump hinted at "strong options" against Iran's leadership over its crackdown on antigovernment protests.
Araghchi, speaking exclusively to Al Jazeera Arabic, insisted that his country remains open to dialogue with the US but will not back down if Washington is seeking to test its military limits. He claimed that Iran has significantly strengthened its military preparedness since last year's 12-day war with Israel and neighboring countries.
The comments come as Trump said he was considering "strong options" for Iran, including potential military strikes, in response to the country's suppression of protests over economic grievances. The US president also ordered a secret operation in Venezuela, where leftist leader Nicolas Maduro is facing a deteriorating crisis.
Araghchi rejected the idea that Washington's actions are aimed at protecting American interests, specifically those of Israel, suggesting instead that Iran itself may be being manipulated by external forces into engaging in conflict with the US. He urged caution and said he hoped the US would choose "the wise option" of diplomacy over military action.
The Iranian government has accused the US and Israel of fomenting unrest in the country, with state media reporting more than 100 security personnel killed in recent days. However, opposition activists have disputed these figures, saying that hundreds of protesters have been killed or injured.
An internet blackout in Iran began on Thursday, causing disruptions to news coverage, but Araghchi assured Al Jazeera that communication channels with Washington remained open and that ideas being discussed were still under consideration by Iranian officials.
Despite claims of improved military preparedness, Araghchi emphasized the need for fair and just negotiations if talks are to succeed. He questioned whether the US is truly ready for this, suggesting a cautious approach from Tehran before committing to any further dialogue.
Araghchi, speaking exclusively to Al Jazeera Arabic, insisted that his country remains open to dialogue with the US but will not back down if Washington is seeking to test its military limits. He claimed that Iran has significantly strengthened its military preparedness since last year's 12-day war with Israel and neighboring countries.
The comments come as Trump said he was considering "strong options" for Iran, including potential military strikes, in response to the country's suppression of protests over economic grievances. The US president also ordered a secret operation in Venezuela, where leftist leader Nicolas Maduro is facing a deteriorating crisis.
Araghchi rejected the idea that Washington's actions are aimed at protecting American interests, specifically those of Israel, suggesting instead that Iran itself may be being manipulated by external forces into engaging in conflict with the US. He urged caution and said he hoped the US would choose "the wise option" of diplomacy over military action.
The Iranian government has accused the US and Israel of fomenting unrest in the country, with state media reporting more than 100 security personnel killed in recent days. However, opposition activists have disputed these figures, saying that hundreds of protesters have been killed or injured.
An internet blackout in Iran began on Thursday, causing disruptions to news coverage, but Araghchi assured Al Jazeera that communication channels with Washington remained open and that ideas being discussed were still under consideration by Iranian officials.
Despite claims of improved military preparedness, Araghchi emphasized the need for fair and just negotiations if talks are to succeed. He questioned whether the US is truly ready for this, suggesting a cautious approach from Tehran before committing to any further dialogue.
! Trump's threatening Iran with "strong options" is like playing chicken on steroids - it's just going to make things worse. What does he even mean by that? Is the US really planning to launch some kind of covert op in Venezuela too? It's getting weirder and weirder over there...
! I'm worried about all those protesters who might get hurt 
or even worse... 
The internet blackout is not helping 
. I just hope the US and Iran can find a way to talk 
without things escalating into conflict 
, not just strong options 
. It's like they're playing with fire 
and someone's gonna get burned 
. Let's all hope for the best 
, while Trump's over there thinkin' about strikin' without considerin' the consequences 
.
. Can't we try to find a solution that doesn't involve more violence or drama? 
.
. Let's keep calm, stay cool, and see if we can't find a way to resolve this peacefully 
, hope they choose diplomacy over military action 
. Don't know if anyone really knows what's going on behind closed doors 
, but one thing for sure is that Iran people deserve better than this 
Is it just me, or does it seem like the US is just stirring up trouble again? 
Maybe we should focus on finding some peaceful solutions instead of trying to "protect" American interests? 
. like, we should all be worried about a major conflict between them. it's not just about the protests, it's about the whole regional instability thing.
but at the same time, he's also saying they wanna talk & negotiate but only if it's on their terms 
like, 100 security personnel killed in recent days? that's wild 
diplomacy over military action would be so much better for everyone 
let's hope washington listens 
i'm literally on the edge of my seat over this situation! i feel so bad for the people of iran who are protesting against their government and facing some serious repression. it's like, i get that everyone wants what's best for their country, but violence and fear should never be used as tools to silence dissenting voices 
that everything can be resolved without more conflict or loss of life 
Are we really expecting Iran to just roll over and accept some kind of deal without even knowing what it says? 
The international situation is definitely more complicated than that but I guess the point is that sometimes we need to take a step back and consider all the angles before making any big moves 
And what about all those protests goin down over economic stuff? Are we really just gonna let the US muscle in there and take care of it themselves? 
. I mean, Araghchi is right, we need fair and just negotiations here, not some wild card military strike that could escalate things.
It's like, news coverage or whatever, who cares if you can't access it online? Can't they just let people talk and communicate freely for once? 
I'm shipping diplomacy over conflict any day 
!
I'm kinda worried about all this tension between Iran and the US, but at the same time, I think it's awesome that they're still talking 
. Like, who doesn't love diplomacy over bombs? 
Araghchi seems like a super cool diplomat – he's all about finding solutions, not just reacting to problems 