After Trump’s threats, Iran affirms readiness for war and dialogue

12th January 2026

1 minute read

After Trump’s threats, Iran affirms readiness for war and dialogue

A war of words is intensifying amid ongoing protests in Iran, raising fears of a new round of escalation.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that he is considering the possibility of taking military action against Iran, as reports continue to emerge about a violent crackdown on protests that have been ongoing in the country for two weeks.

Speaking to journalists aboard Air Force One on Sunday evening U.S. time, Trump stated that Tehran is “beginning to cross the red line he set regarding the killing of protesters.”

In response, Iran confirmed through its Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi that it is fully prepared for war.

At the same time, Araghchi emphasized that Iran is “also ready for dialogue.”

Earlier, Trump revealed that Iran “wants to negotiate” after he threatened to launch military strikes if Iranian authorities continued to suppress the protests.

During a conference for foreign ambassadors in Tehran, broadcast by state television, Araghchi said that Iran “does not seek war, but is fully prepared for it. We are also ready for negotiations, provided they are fair and based on equal rights and mutual respect.”

Meanwhile, Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian accused the United States and Israel of “attempting to escalate these disturbances,” while noting that the authorities are working to find solutions.

For his part, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that Iran would respond to any U.S. strike by targeting American military sites and naval vessels in the region.