Amid ongoing airstrikes from the US andIsrael, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Thursday declared the country's readiness for a potential ground invasion. In a video interview, he dismissed the possibility of negotiations with the US and asserted that Iran has not sought a ceasefire. His remarks came after the US and Israeli militaries began a sweeping attack on Iran on Saturday, which decimated its military defences and killed its top authority, Supreme LeaderAyatollah Ali Khamenei.
Asked if he was afraid of a possible US ground invasion, Araghchi spoke with “NBC Nightly News" anchor Tom Llamas in a video interview and struck a defiant tone. "No, we are waiting for them," he said and added, "Because we are confident that we can confront them, and that would be a big disaster for them."
Araghchi also said that Iran has not asked for a ceasefire despite strikes across the country. "We didn’t ask for a ceasefire even last time. In previous time, it was Israel who asked for a ceasefire. They asked for an unconditional ceasefire after 12 days that we resisted against their aggression," he said, referring to the 12-day war last June when the Israeli and US militaries targeted Iran's nuclear facilities.
Israeli airstrikes pounded the capitals of Iran and Lebanon as the US apparently struck an Iranian drone carrier at sea, intensifying its campaign targeting the Islamic Republic's fleet of warships. Iran launched new retaliatory attacks early Friday against neighbouring countries that host US forces. There were no immediate reports of casualties. The latest strikes mark a full week of attacks affecting countries across the Middle East.
The Israeli military said the fighting has destroyed most of Iran's air defences and missile launchers, while US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that strikes against Tehran were "about to surge dramatically."
Tehran has warned of the destruction of the Middle East's military and economic infrastructure, and the war has rattled financial markets.
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