Ashhar Alam | New Delhi

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said Tehran has lost “trust” in the United States as a negotiating partner, even as he stressed that Iran remains open to a “fair and equitable” agreement with Washington on the nuclear issue amid rising regional tensions.

In a recent interview, Araghchi said Iran is not seeking confrontation but is deeply concerned about the risks of miscalculation and military action driven by misinformation. He warned that certain forces were attempting to push the United States into conflict for their own interests.

“I’m not concerned about war itself,” Araghchi said. “What worries me is miscalculation military operations based on misinformation and disinformation campaigns. There are parties who want to drag President Trump into a war for their own benefit. I believe he is wise enough to make the right decision.”

The Iranian foreign minister underlined that meaningful diplomacy cannot proceed without trust, arguing that Washington’s past actions have eroded confidence. However, he said regional intermediaries and friendly nations are attempting to bridge the trust deficit.

“We have lost trust in the United States as a negotiating partner,” he said. “That mistrust must be overcome. Some intermediaries in the region are trying to build confidence. It is difficult, but efforts are underway.”

Araghchi indicated that Tehran would consider further talks if the US negotiators align with President Donald Trump’s stated objective of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, provided sanctions relief is part of the agreement.

“President Trump has said no nuclear weapons, and we fully agree,” Araghchi said. “That could be the basis of a good deal. In return, we expect sanctions to be lifted. Such a deal is possible.”

Warning of the broader fallout from any military confrontation, Araghchi said a direct conflict between Iran and the US would destabilise the entire region. He referred to past hostilities, including the 12-day Iran-Israel conflict in June 2025, saying Tehran had worked to contain escalation at that time.

“If a conflict breaks out between Iran and the United States, it will not remain limited,” he said. “Many parts of the region would inevitably be drawn in, and that would be extremely dangerous.”

While noting that Iran is prepared for all scenarios, Araghchi emphasised that Tehran’s priority remains preventing war. “Being prepared does not mean we want war. Our goal is to prevent it,” he said.

His remarks come as the US steps up its military presence in the region, including the deployment of a large naval formation led by the USS Abraham Lincoln, amid heightened tensions.

Meanwhile, President Trump on Sunday said he was “hopeful” of reaching a deal with Iran, hours after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that any US-initiated conflict would spiral into a wider regional war.

Speaking to reporters at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Trump said the United States had positioned significant military assets near the region but preferred a diplomatic resolution.

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“We have the biggest, most powerful ships in the world over there,” Trump said. “Hopefully, in a couple of days, we’ll make a deal. If not, we’ll see what happens.”

Khamenei, in a series of posts on X, cautioned Washington against military action, asserting that Iran would not be intimidated by threats involving warships or aircraft and that any war would not remain confined.

The Americans had spent billions of dollars and thousands of hours to eliminate Iran’s strategic influence and to damage #Iran. But this plot was thwarted because of the Islamic Republic’s enormous, effective strength.

— Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei | سید علی خامنه‌ای (@Rahbar_Khamenei) November 26, 2022