Abbas Araghchi said Iran is not seeking conflict but is fully prepared to defend itself. “The Islamic Republic of Iran is not seeking war, but it is fully prepared for war,” he said.
Speaking at a meeting attended by foreign ambassadors based in Tehran, Araghchi added that Iran remains open to diplomacy. “We are also ready for negotiations, but these talks must be fair, conducted on equal footing and based on mutual respect,” he said.
His remarks came after Donald Trump said Tehran was seeking dialogue with Washington and repeatedly warned of possible US military intervention.
Araghchi said nationwide protests in Iran had turned “violent and bloody” in recent days, claiming the unrest was being exploited to create a pretext for foreign intervention. He acknowledged that the level of violence had increased over the weekend.
Earlier, HRANA, a US-based Iranian human rights organisation, reported that at least 538 protesters had been killed since demonstrations began. Iranian authorities have not confirmed those figures.
The foreign minister blamed the bloodshed on Trump’s warnings of military action, saying they had provided a pretext for what he described as “terrorists” to attack both protesters and security forces in an effort to pave the way for foreign intervention.
Araghchi also claimed that Iranian authorities possess video footage showing weapons being distributed among protesters, though he provided no evidence to support the allegation. He said confessions by detainees would be released soon and that officials are “closely monitoring” developments on the streets.
However, videos circulating on social media show security forces firing at demonstrators, and witnesses say many protesters were killed by live ammunition.
As a nationwide internet shutdown continues and Trump has repeatedly threatened intervention, protests have entered their third week and remain widespread across Iran.
The Iranian government has declared three days of public mourning for members of the security forces killed during the unrest. The Tasnim news agency reported on Sunday that 109 security personnel had died.
Officials have not released an official toll for civilian deaths. Opposition activists abroad say the number of protesters killed is significantly higher and includes hundreds of demonstrators. The ongoing internet blackout has made independent verification of casualty figures difficult.
