TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Monday said that Iran is prepared for both war and negotiations, amid rising regional tensions and recent unrest in the country.
In a statement, the Iranian foreign minister said violence escalated over the weekend after terrorists targeted both protesters and security forces. However, he added that the situation is now fully under control.
Araghchi said that peaceful demonstrations in Iran turned violent over the past few days, claiming that around 350 mosques were set on fire during protests over a two-week period.
He maintained that Iranian security forces exercised maximum restraint during the unrest and acknowledged that the protesters’ demands were legitimate and had been heard by the government.
The Iranian foreign minister further alleged that the protests turned bloody following remarks about possible intervention by former US president Donald Trump, suggesting that the violence was incited to create a pretext for foreign interference.
“We are ready for both war and negotiations,” Araghchi reiterated.
It may be recalled that US President Donald Trump recently claimed Iran had reached out for talks and that arrangements for negotiations were underway.
At the same time, Trump warned that the United States was considering various options against Iran, including possible military action, which he said could be pursued even before any dialogue.
