Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told RT’s Rick Sanchez in a Feb. 10 interview that U.S. lost Tehran’s trust after it bombed Iran in the middle of negotiations. Iran is fully committed to a diplomatic settlement with the U.S. while simultaneously bracing for the possibility of renewed conflict, he said.
Araghchi argued that “there is no solution but a diplomatic solution,” saying technology and progress cannot be destroyed through bombings and military threats, which have fueled Tehran’s mistrust of Washington. “We still do not have full trust in Americans,” he said. “We were in the middle of negotiations last June when they decided to attack us. That was a very bad experience for us.”
At the same time, the foreign minister ruled out negotiations on Iran’s ballistic missile program or its regional alliances, saying these are unrelated to the nuclear issue. “We only negotiate about our nuclear program with the U.S.,” he said, describing other demands as “absolutely” off the table.
Araghchi made clear that Iran is ready for confrontation if diplomacy collapses. “We are prepared for a diplomatic solution as much as we are prepared to defend ourselves against any new aggression,” he said, adding that Iran’s military readiness has improved both “quantity-wise and quality-wise” since last year’s Israeli-U.S. bombing.
Araghchi was sharply critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, describing him as a “warmonger” who has repeatedly tried to drag Washington into a wider war against Iran. If attacked again, he warned, Iran would strike U.S. assets and bases across the region.
Despite the tensions, Araghchi said his recent discussions with U.S. interlocutors suggested an interest in avoiding war. “If they are serious, we are serious too,” he stated, adding that the responsibility now lies with Washington to provide guarantees that negotiations will not again be accompanied by military action. “We have learned our lessons on war and diplomacy,” Araghchi said. “Now we are prepared for both."Feb. 11, 2026 (EIRNS)—Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told RT’s Rick Sanchez in a Feb. 10 interview that U.S. lost Tehran’s trust after it bombed Iran in the middle of negotiations. Iran is fully committed to a diplomatic settlement with the U.S. while simultaneously bracing for the possibility of renewed conflict, he said.
