By Desmond Nleya
TEHRAN — Iran says it remains open to genuine diplomatic negotiations with the United States but has warned that any further US attack could trigger what its foreign minister described as an “apocalyptic war.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran was prepared for diplomacy but would also defend itself if Washington launched another military assault.
“We are ready for real diplomacy, but if they choose war, we are ready for an apocalyptic war,” Araghchi said, according to reports.
The warning comes as tensions between Iran and the United States remain high, with US President Donald Trump saying he expects further talks with Tehran this week.
Trump has also claimed that Washington will win the conflict “very soon”.
Meanwhile, the US military has rejected an Iranian claim that its forces seized an advanced American underwater drone in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
The disputed incident comes amid heightened tensions around the waterway, a critical route for global energy shipments.
In Britain, five men have been arrested near a UK airbase used by the US in operations against Iran. Police said the suspects were arrested on suspicion of explosives and terrorism-related offences.
The developments underscore the growing regional and international tensions surrounding the US-Iran confrontation, as diplomatic efforts continue alongside preparations for further military escalation.
