On Sunday, March 15, 2026, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed claims that Tehran is seeking a ceasefire or negotiations to end the ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel.
In a robust interview with Margaret Brennan on CBS’s Face the Nation, Araghchi asserted that Iran is ready to continue its military resistance for "as long as it takes".
Defending Until "No Victory"
Araghchi’s remarks served as a direct rebuttal to President Donald Trump, who recently claimed on Truth Social that Iran is "totally defeated and wants a deal":
The Stance: "We never asked for a ceasefire, and we have never asked even for negotiation. We are ready to defend ourselves as long as it takes," Araghchi stated.
The Goal: He added that Iran will maintain its defensive operations until President Trump realizes that the conflict is an "illegal war with no victory".
Survival vs. Strength: The minister rejected the idea that the war poses an existential threat to the Iranian state, declaring that Tehran is "stable and strong enough" to withstand the aggression.
Rejection of Diplomacy
The Foreign Minister explained why Iran sees no path to current negotiations with Washington:
Broken Trust: Araghchi pointed out that Iran was already engaged in talks with U.S. officials when the first wave of strikes hit on February 28. "There is no good experience talking with Americans," he concluded.
Nuclear Material "Under Rubble": He revealed that Iran's stockpile of 440kg of enriched uranium is currently buried under debris following strikes on the Isfahan facility. He stated there are "no plans" to retrieve it, making nuclear talks a non-starter for now.
Regional Accountability: Araghchi justified strikes on U.S. assets in neighboring Arab states, arguing that countries hosting U.S. forces have "given their soil" to be used as launchpads for aggression against Iran.
Control of the Strait of Hormuz
Regarding the global energy crisis, Araghchi reiterated that Iran has not "officially" closed the Strait of Hormuz:
Safe Passage: He claimed that certain countries, including France and Italy, have already approached Iran for safe passage of their vessels.
Selective Security: He maintained that the waterway remains open to all except the "U.S. and its allies," with safety decisions being made on a case-by-case basis by the Iranian military.
Read also: US war with Iran has now cost an estimated $21,000,000,000 since strikes began
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