Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said Tehran is prepared to confront a potential United States ground invasion, warning that such a move would have serious consequences for Washington as tensions with the US and Israel continue to escalate.
In a video interview with NBC News on Thursday, Araghchi struck a defiant tone when asked whether Iran feared the possibility of American troops entering the country.
“No, we are waiting for them,” he said, adding that Iran was confident in its ability to confront US forces and that a ground invasion would become “a big disaster” for Washington.
The remarks come amid an intensifying conflict following joint US and Israeli strikes on Iran that began on Feb. 28. Iranian authorities say the attacks killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several senior security officials.
Iran rejects ceasefire calls
Despite the growing violence, Araghchi said Iran has not sought a ceasefire with its adversaries.
Referring to last year’s brief war with Israel, he noted that Tehran had not requested a truce at that time either.
“In the previous time, it was Israel who asked for a ceasefire,” he said, referring to the 12-day confrontation during which Israeli and US forces targeted Iranian nuclear facilities.
According to the Iranian foreign minister, Tehran’s aim in the current conflict is simply to resist what it describes as unlawful attacks against the country.
“There is no winner in this war,” Araghchi said. “Our win is to be able to resist.”
Dispute over school strike In Minab, Iran
Araghchi also accused the United States or Israel of carrying out a strike on an elementary school in the southern city of Minab, which he said killed 171 schoolgirls.
He said Iranian military officials believed the attack could only have been conducted by one of the two countries.
US officials denied responsibility. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters that Washington was reviewing the incident and maintained that the United States does not deliberately target civilians.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt also rejected the allegation, reiterating that US forces do not carry out strikes on civilian sites.
Talks frozen with Washington
Araghchi said Iran currently has no communication with US intermediaries, including envoy Steve Witkoff or Jared Kushner.
He argued that previous diplomatic efforts with Washington had been followed by military strikes, leaving Tehran with little confidence in negotiations.
“The fact is that we don’t have any positive experience of negotiating with the United States,” he said, accusing Washington of failing to negotiate in good faith.
Even so, the Iranian foreign minister acknowledged that the war might not produce a decisive outcome for any side.
“There is no winner in this war,” he said.