Iran is prepared for what its foreign minister called a “doomsday war” with the United States but is still seeking a diplomatic settlement, Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday. His remarks came after President Donald Trump publicly rejected an Iranian proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the confrontation.

“We are totally prepared for the resumption of the war,” Araghchi said in an interview with NBC News. “We stand firm against any new aggression, even if it is an apocalyptic war. At the same time, we are ready for the diplomatic path.” He said mistrust of Washington remained the main obstacle, but Iran was continuing its diplomatic efforts.

Iran presented what Araghchi described as a seven-point plan last week on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. Transmitted to Washington through Qatar, it called for reopening the strategic waterway within seven days and resuming nuclear talks. In return, Tehran sought an end to the US naval blockade of Iranian ports, relief from sanctions on Iranian oil exports, the ability to resume oil sales and the release of frozen Iranian assets. Earlier accounts put the value of those assets at about $12 billion.

Araghchi said Iran’s conditions for reopening the strait were clear, fair and non-negotiable, and had been emphasized by Iran’s supreme leader. He said the conditions were also included in a memorandum of understanding agreed by Iran and the United States in June.

Araghchi said a Qatari mediator met him again on Monday in New York. They discussed ideas for meeting Iran’s conditions, which would be presented to Washington before a formal US response was sent to Tehran. Araghchi said he hoped the response would arrive by Tuesday. He said Iran was waiting for the official answer through the mediators despite Trump’s public rejection of the proposal.

Trump rejects proposal but confirms mediator contacts

Trump said he had rejected the proposal, arguing that Iran wanted the strait reopened immediately because it was “losing big.” In an interview with Axios, he said he expected more talks with Tehran during the week beginning September 28. On Monday, he confirmed that US officials had met representatives of mediator countries to discuss ways to end the war.

“They want to make a deal, but it’s not the deal I want to make,” Trump said. He said the United States would win the war “one way or another” and that it would happen “very quickly.” He also said oil prices would fall rapidly once the war ended and that inflation would disappear. Trump left open the possibility of renewed airstrikes and denied reports that he had offered to ease sanctions in exchange for nuclear concessions, calling them a “hoax.”

US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said Iran was not negotiating “in good faith.” Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran was not seeking war but would defend itself against pressure, threats and attacks. He also said Iran had agreed not to develop nuclear weapons.

Hormuz remains at the center of the dispute

The Strait of Hormuz remains the main point of leverage. The waterway normally carries between one-fifth and one-quarter of globally transported oil. Its closure after the joint US-Israeli operation against Iranian nuclear facilities on February 28 drove up crude prices and left nearly 2,000 vessels stranded.

A Pakistan-mediated ceasefire took effect on April 8 after 39 days of hostilities, but naval confrontations in and around the strait have continued. Iran’s military spokesman Abolfazl Shekarchi warned that Tehran could use “new military technologies” if the conflict resumed.

Regional tensions continue

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it had captured a second US Remus 600 unmanned submarine in the strait. The claim was not confirmed by Washington. Israel reported new strikes in southern Lebanon after accusing Hezbollah of sending an explosive drone against Israeli troops.

Separately, five men were arrested near RAF Fairford in southwest England, a British base used by the United States. Police are examining possible explosives found near the installation and investigating a possible link to Iran, Russia or militant groups. No state sponsorship has been confirmed. The base remained operational, with US military police and armored vehicles seen securing it.

Iranian authorities denied plans for military reprisals against countries that suspended flights to Iran because of US sanctions, while saying non-military reciprocal measures could be considered. In the occupied West Bank, Israel ordered a closure through the end of the Sukkot holiday, barring Palestinian workers from entering settlements. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry criticized Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich for calling for expanded military action in the territory.