Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has declared that his country is ready for a ground invasion by American troops, as the war launched by the United States and Israel has rapidly spread throughout the region.
In an interview with NBC News, Araghchi said that Iran has not asked for a ceasefire and does not want negotiations.
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Letter to the Reader — Why We're Asking for Your Support ContributeHis comments came after the US and Israeli militaries launched a comprehensive attack on Iran last Saturday, which destroyed its military defenses and killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Asked if he feared a possible US ground invasion, Araghchi responded in a defiant and unwavering tone.
"No, we are waiting for them," he declared and added: "Because we are sure we can handle them and that would be a great disaster for them."
Before the US and Israel launched the war on Iran a week ago, Araghchi was in a very different place, negotiating a potential deal with President Donald Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, in Geneva.
The attack, while negotiations were ongoing, has angered Iran about any future talks, Araghchi stressed, adding that he has had no communication with Witkoff or Kushner since last week.
"The fact is that we don't have any positive experience of negotiations with the United States. You know, especially with this administration. We negotiated twice last year and this year, and then in the middle of the negotiations, they attacked us," Araghchi said.
Khamenei's assassination has left a power vacuum in Iran, with reports that Mojtaba Khamenei, the former supreme leader's second son, could be chosen as his successor.
This could cause criticism within Iran because the transfer of authority from father to son removed the monarchy that was overthrown in the 1979 Iranian Revolution, which led to the creation of the Islamic Republic.
Araghchi dismissed the idea that Trump could be involved in selecting the next supreme leader.
"This is absolutely the business of the Iranian people and no one can interfere," he stressed.