Tehran: Iran has declared that it does not seek war with the United States but is fully prepared for any military confrontation after repeated intervention threats from US President Donald Trump amid nationwide protests.
The warning comes as Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and senior officials adopt a hardened stance in response to Washington’s rhetoric.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, addressing foreign diplomats in Tehran, said the Islamic Republic “does not want war but is completely ready for war”, while also signalling readiness for dialogue with the US. He stressed that any talks must be fair, with equal rights for all parties and rooted in mutual respect.
Trump had said on 11 December 2025 that Iran’s leadership wanted to negotiate with his administration and repeatedly warned of military intervention if Tehran used lethal force against demonstrators. Protests over spiralling inflation that began two weeks ago have already claimed hundreds of lives, according to local reports.
Araghchi accused Trump of “looking for a pretext” to interfere in Iran’s internal affairs, claiming that the protests turned violent to justify potential US action.
A foreign ministry spokesperson added that communication channels remain open between Araghchi and Trump’s special envoy.
In a sharp personal attack, Ayatollah Khamenei told the nation that Trump too would eventually fall, likening him to historical tyrants such as Pharaoh, Nimrod, Reza Shah and Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who “were brought down at the peak of their arrogance”.
After days of unrest, thousands of government supporters took to the streets in a show of strength, backing the regime. The Speaker of Iran’s Parliament warned that if the US attacks Iran over the protests, American forces and Israel will become targets. More than 84 hours after the latest crackdown, internet services remain shut across much of the country, leaving people struggling to even contact each other by phone.