Iran has described any attack on its nuclear facilities as “madness” that would lead to a “major catastrophe” in the region, while urging Washington to take further steps to gain Tehran’s trust at this stage.
In televised remarks, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated: “An attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities would be a disaster with dire consequences.”
He continued: “I don’t think they would make such a grave mistake. Such an action would be sheer madness and would drag the region into a major catastrophe.”
Last week, US President Donald Trump expressed hope for reaching an agreement with Iran and “avoiding strikes” on its nuclear sites.
Araghchi noted that convincing Tehran to resume negotiations with Washington “will take much longer than before,” emphasizing that the current circumstances “are far more difficult, and the US must take serious steps to earn Iran’s trust,” according to Sky News Arabia.
“Iran is willing to hear President Donald Trump’s proposals regarding new negotiations on the Iranian file,” he continued, adding: “That doesn’t necessarily mean we will reject everything that comes from the United States.”
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, referring to threats from what he called the “enemies of the Iranian people,” said Iran “will not back down in the face of threats and sanctions, nor will it engage in war or conflict with the world.”
Iran fears that Trump’s return to office could mean a revival of the “maximum pressure” policy aimed at forcing Tehran to change its regional behavior, particularly as its nuclear program advances toward enrichment levels close to weapons-grade.
According to Axios, Iran has proposed negotiating with Trump to sign a “new nuclear deal.” The report stated that Iranian representatives asked European diplomats to relay a message to Washington, indicating that they are waiting for a plan or proposal from the United States.
Separately, Araghchi downplayed Trump’s proposal to relocate Palestinians from Gaza, sarcastically saying: “Instead of displacing Palestinians, Jews should be relocated to Greenland.”
The minister also addressed the status of Hamas and Hezbollah - both backed by Iran -, acknowledging that they “have faced pressure and damage but continue rebuilding their capabilities.”
