Iran’s conditional readiness to de-escalate undermined by Trump

FM Araghchi says Iran’s conditional readiness to de-escalate undermined by Trump’s misreading of Tehran’s capabilities intentions

Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s Foreign Minister, said that President Masoud Pezeshkian had declared Iran’s readiness to reduce tensions in the region, provided that the airspace, territory, and waters of neighboring countries were not used to launch attacks against the Iranian people.

However, he noted that this approach was almost immediately undermined due to a misreading by U.S. President Donald Trump of Iran’s capabilities, resolve, and intentions.

 

“If Mr. Trump is seeking to escalate tensions, he is pursuing exactly what our powerful armed forces have long prepared for—and he will receive the appropriate response,” Araghchi said. “Responsibility for any escalation in Iran’s actions in exercising its right of self-defense will lie directly with the United States government.”

 

He added that “Mr. Trump’s week-long adventurism has already cost the U.S. military $100 billion, in addition to the lives of young soldiers that have been lost. As markets reopen, these costs will rise significantly and will ultimately be felt directly by ordinary American citizens—particularly at gas stations.”

 

Araghchi further noted that the Trump administration’s National Intelligence Council—which reflects the collective assessments of 18 U.S. intelligence agencies—had concluded that a war against Iran would end only in failure. “I had also warned Mr. Trump’s envoys that war would not improve their bargaining position. Were these warnings conveyed to him?” he asked.

 

“The American people voted to end costly conflicts in the Middle East,” he continued. “Instead, they now face an administration that, after decades of unsuccessful efforts, Benjamin Netanyahu has finally managed to deceive into fighting a war on Israel’s behalf.”

 

“This is a war of choice pursued by a small circle of those who put Israel first—and ‘Israel First’ has always meant ‘America Last,’” Araghchi concluded.