In an exclusive op-ed for The Financial Times on Wednesday, Araghchi outlined Iran’s thorough diplomacy, simultaneously with its defensive deterrence, in the face of illegal and illegitimate wars that were launched by the aggressive US and Israeli regimes.
"The White House is refusing to acknowledge the war’s mounting costs for ordinary Americans," he said, citing Moody’s that the aggression has cost American consumers an estimated $265bn this year, or about $2,000 per household, with surging energy prices making up roughly half of that figure.
Recalling his meetings with his foreign counterparts on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York last month, he said the views might have differed, they were unanimous in the message: "Iran seeks a just and honorable deal with the US. To achieve that outcome, the White House must demonstrate seriousness and a genuine will to permanently end its aggression."
Reiterating Iran's commitment to seeking a dignified peaceful resolution to the conflict, he said the nation also remained firm in defending its sovereignty, and independence. "Trump entered this war on the basis of fundamentally erroneous assumptions about Iran’s fortitude," he noted.
Araghchi added that the US president's continued rhetoric showed he was being wrongly told about the Iranian Armed Forces' preparedness to defend the homeland. "Instead, our fearless military has learnt valuable lessons from the acts of aggression committed by Israel and America since 2025."
He further wrote about the US untrustworthiness, citing the history of bombing during the negotiations, in June 2025 and February 2026, and again shortly after a Memorandum of Understanding reached by Iranian and American presidents. "To state the obvious, we have no trust whatsoever in the sincerity of the US administration’s professed desire for peace with Iran."
Raising the question as how can Iran trust the US president again, he said diplomacy is always preferable to him but there is little reason to expect progress now, given "the White House shows no willingness to reach an understanding on the way forward, while also threatening more violence."
Araghchi also accused Washington of not taking '7-Day Plan' conveyed during the UN General Assembly to the United States—via intermediaries—outlining the necessary steps to be taken by both sides to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Stating that Iran, simply by virtue of its geography, will always have unparalleled leverage over maritime traffic through the strategic waterway — irreplaceable for both the region and the world economy— he said "Iran intends to honor its historic role as a guardian of the Strait."
Rejecting the US threats, Araghchi said Iran is an ancient and proud civilization, which will not bow to any hegemonic power, adding that the US would sure encounter a far greater strategic defeat should it again choose military action over diplomacy.
"Iran is prepared to give diplomacy another chance if we see strong evidence of a sincere desire on the part of the US to achieve a just and honorable solution to permanently end this conflict," he added.
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