US President Trump Opens Military Action Options, Iran Foreign Minister Araghchi: We Are Ready

JAKARTA - Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned the United States that his country was ready to fight if Washington wanted to "test" Iran's readiness, after President Donald Trump threatened to take military action in response to Iran's crackdown on anti-government protests.

In an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera Arabic on Monday, Foreign Minister Araghchi said communication channels with the US remained open amid ongoing turmoil, but stressed that his country was "ready for all options", claiming that Iran's Tehran now has "a large and extensive military readiness" compared to last year's 12-day war.

His comments followed President Trump's remarks on Sunday, amid nationwide protests in Iran sparked by economic hardships that have escalated into broader calls for systemic change.

The US president said he was considering "strong options" for Iran over its crackdown on protests, including the potential for military action.

President Trump said a meeting was being arranged with Tehran to negotiate its nuclear program, "but we may have to act because of what happened before the meeting."

"If Washington wants to test military options that have been tested before, we are ready for it," said Foreign Minister Araghci, adding that he hoped the US would choose the "wise option" of dialogue, while warning about "those who try to drag Washington into a war to serve Israel's interests," reported Al Jazeera (13/1)

Foreign Minister Araghchi told Al Jazeera Arabic, his communication with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff had "continued before and after the protests and is still ongoing".

He said the ideas that had been discussed with Washington were being studied in Tehran.

However, he added, "the ideas and threats proposed by Washington against our country are not appropriate."

"We are ready to sit at the nuclear negotiating table, provided there are no threats or orders," Foreign Minister Araghchi said, questioning whether Washington was "ready for fair and equitable negotiations".

"When it is ready, we will consider this matter seriously," he said.

In the interview, Foreign Minister Araghchi alluded to the rising death toll, reiterating his previous statement that "terrorist elements" had "infiltrated the crowd of demonstrators and targeted security forces and demonstrators."

Iran has blamed the US and Israel for provoking unrest in the country over the past two weeks.

More than 100 security personnel have been killed in recent days, according to state media reports, while opposition activists say the death toll is higher and includes hundreds of demonstrators. Al Jazeera has not been able to independently verify the figures.

Later, the White House revealed that US President Donald Trump was considering an air strike on Iran over its claims to stop the repression of demonstrators in the country.

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that in a discussion with Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, Trump said the US diplomatic track remained open, with Iran taking a "much different tone".

"One thing President Trump is very good at is always keeping all options on the table. And an air strike would be one of the many options available to the commander-in-chief," Leavitt told reporters outside the White House West Wing, quoted by AFP.

"Diplomacy has always been the first choice for the president," he continued.

"What you hear publicly from the Iranian regime is very different from the messages the government receives privately, and I think the president is interested in exploring those messages," Leavitt added.