TEHRAN, August 11, 2026: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has claimed that the United States sought negotiations with Iran around 20 days after the outbreak of war, despite US President Donald Trump initially demanding what he described as Iran’s “unconditional surrender.”
Speaking at a press conference broadcast on Iranian state television, Araghchi said Trump had posted the words “unconditional surrender” on social media during the early stages of the conflict, signalling that Washington expected Tehran to capitulate.
According to the Iranian foreign minister, the situation changed within weeks.
He claimed that roughly 20 days later, the United States contacted Iran and sought negotiations.
Araghchi Says Iran Resisted US Pressure
Araghchi said the development showed that Iran had refused to surrender to military and political pressure and had maintained its position throughout the conflict.
He also claimed that Iran had demonstrated to the international community that it was a resilient and difficult military power to defeat.
According to Araghchi, foreign ministers and officials from several countries told him they had been surprised by Iran’s ability to sustain resistance against the United States.
He said Washington had the support of Israel, Western countries and some other states, but Iran continued resisting during the conflict.
Iran Says Military Pressure Failed
The Iranian foreign minister said the conflict had shown that military pressure alone could not force Tehran to accept external demands.
His remarks come amid continuing disagreements between the United States and Iran over ending the war, Tehran’s nuclear programme and the situation surrounding the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran has repeatedly maintained that any negotiations must respect its sovereignty and national interests, while the United States has continued to press its concerns over Iran’s nuclear activities and regional policies.
There was no immediate detailed response from Washington to Araghchi’s latest claim.
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