Amid the ongoing Middle East crisis, Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, rejected calls for a ceasefire, telling NBC News’ Meet the Press that Iran must “continue fighting for the sake of our people.”
According to the report, Iranian FM argued that Israel and the U.S. had already violated the ceasefire that ended last year’s 12-day conflict, saying, “And now you want to ask for a ceasefire again? This doesn’t work like this.”
But before Tehran might even consider a ceasefire, Abbas Araghch said “they have to explain why they started this aggression.” Araghch did not specify about whom he was speaking.
Araghchi also told NBC’s “Meet the Press” that “there should be a permanent end of the war and unless we get to that, I think we need to continue fighting for the sake of our people and our security.”
He says the war “was imposed on us” by the United States and Israel, and that “what we are doing is legal acts of self-defense and we have every right to do that.”
Iran’s attacks on neighbouring Gulf countries
He defended Iran’s attacks on neighbouring Gulf countries, explaining that the strikes were targeted at U.S. military bases in the region, since Iranian missiles do not have the range to reach the United States.
“It is Americans who started this war against us, attacking us, and we are defending ourselves. So it is obvious that our missiles cannot reach the US soil,” Araghchi said.
“What we can do is to attack American bases and American installations around us, which are unfortunately in the soil of our, you know, neighbor countries.”
“Iranian missiles cannot reach US soil”
Iran’s foreign minister said on Sunday that Tehran’s missiles aren’t capable of striking the United States, and he defended the attacks that have struck neighbouring Gulf countries in the ongoing Middle East conflict, AFP reported.
“It is Americans who started this war against us, attacking us, and we are defending ourselves. So it is obvious that our missiles cannot reach the US soil,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
“What we can do is to attack American bases and American installations around us, which are unfortunately in the soil of our, you know, neighbor countries,” AFP reported.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump claimed that Iranian missiles could “soon” be capable of striking the United States. However, a 2025 U.S. intelligence assessment found that Tehran did not currently possess intercontinental ballistic missiles and estimated that if Iran chose to pursue such weapons, it would likely take until around 2035 for it to develop a force of about 60 ICBMs capable of reaching the U.S. homeland, contradicting the idea of an imminent threat.
This doesn’t work like this.
Since Israel and the United States began airstrikes on February 28, the war has claimed at least 1,230 lives in Iran, more than 300 in Lebanon, and around a dozen in Israel, with six U.S. soldiers also killed, according to officials. The conflict has unsettled global markets, disrupted flights, and significantly weakened Iran’s leadership through hundreds of Israeli and American airstrikes.
(With inputs from agencies)
Key Takeaways
- Iran views the conflict as a defensive response to U.S. and Israeli aggression.
- Ceasefire calls are rejected by Iran, citing violations by the U.S. and Israel.
- Ongoing airstrikes have significantly impacted Iran’s leadership and civilian casualties.
About the Author
Mausam Jha
Mausam Jha is a journalist who focuses on world affairs and politics. She provides clear, informative reporting with a good understanding of both global events and their local impact.
Her clear, accessible reporting on political and international issues makes her a trusted source of news and analysis.
For the past three years, Mausam has worked with Mint, covering national politics, IR—including elections—and global affairs.
Before joining her current role, she gained experience working with The Statesman, ANI, and Financial Express, where she honed her skills in political and international news.
She has consistently tracked key electoral battles, including US elections, Japan elections, policy debates, and strategic affairs, explaining how global currents, from great power competition to regional conflicts
Beyond journalism, Mausam has a deep engagement with international relations, diplomacy, war studies, terrorism, political history, and political theory. She is particularly interested in the intersection of statecraft and society on how governance, ideology, and institutions shape lived realities, and how politics shape today’s world order.
An avid reader of classical literature and political thought, she constantly explores the connections between historical ideas and contemporary policy challenges.
