By Omamus Thomas, Staff Writer
TEHRAN — Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned on Wednesday that any American military strike on Iranian soil would trigger a scorched-earth retaliation against “everything” the United States maintains in the Middle East, signaling a high-stakes brinkmanship as the two nations attempt to return to the negotiating table.
In an exclusive interview with RT’s Sanchez, Mr. Araghchi struck a dual-track tone that has become the hallmark of Tehran’s post-war diplomacy: projecting a readiness for total conflict while insisting on a preference for a “doable” diplomatic solution.
”We would attack the U.S. and U.S. assets and facilities,” Mr. Araghchi said, when asked how Tehran would respond to an American offensive. “Everything they have in our neighborhood.”
The Foreign Minister’s remarks come just months after the devastating “12-Day War” in June 2025—a flurry of tit-for-tat airstrikes between Iran and Israel that eventually drew direct U.S. intervention.
Despite American B-2 bombers striking Iranian nuclear sites during that conflict, Mr. Araghchi claimed that Iran’s military posture has only strengthened.
”We’re more prepared militarily than before the 12-day war—quantity-wise and quality-wise,” he said.
He pointedly added that “Iran’s nuclear program cannot be bombed and destroyed,” asserting that the country’s technical expertise remains intact regardless of physical damage to facilities.
Red Lines and ‘Objective’ Guarantees
As President Trump signals a willingness to forge a “great deal” with Tehran, the Iranian side is already drawing firm red lines.
Most notably, Mr. Araghchi declared that Iran’s ballistic missile program is “absolutely” off the table for discussion.
”The missile issue is purely defensive,” he said, mirroring statements made during recent indirect talks in Oman. “It cannot be negotiated, neither now nor in the future.”
For any new agreement to hold, Tehran is demanding “objective guarantees”—a tall order given the collapse of previous accords.
Mr. Araghchi specifically called for a commitment that Washington will not use force to resolve political differences.
”They tried, they failed,” he said of past U.S. military pressure.
“We don’t have full trust in the Americans. We were in the middle of negotiations and they decided to attack us.”
The ‘Doable’ Proposal
Despite the bellicose rhetoric, Mr. Araghchi revealed that Tehran is drafting a new proposal aimed at breaking the nuclear impasse.
The framework reportedly rests on two pillars:
Verification: Concrete steps to ensure no nuclear weapons are developed.
Civilian Access: Unhindered use of nuclear technology for medicine, agriculture, and energy.
”I am a man of diplomacy,” Mr. Araghchi insisted, framing himself as a moderate voice seeking a path out of the cycle of violence.
“We are prepared for a diplomatic solution as much as we are prepared to defend ourselves.”
Whether the Trump administration will accept a deal that ignores Iran’s missile arsenal remains the central question hanging over the region. For now, the “man of diplomacy” is making it clear that his pens are ready, but his missiles are aimed.
