Iran warns of immediate response to any US attack but signals openness to nuclear deal

Iran warned it would respond immediately and forcefully to any US military strike, while also indicating it remains open to a new nuclear agreement, following fresh threats from US President Donald Trump.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran’s forces had their “fingers on the trigger” and would “powerfully respond” to any US action.

His comments came after Trump said time was running out to avoid military confrontation and warned that a “massive armada” of US naval vessels was heading towards waters off Iran.

Despite the warning, Araghchi said Iran was willing to pursue a “mutually beneficial, fair and equitable” nuclear deal that guarantees Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear technology and ensures no nuclear weapons. He reiterated Tehran’s long-standing claim that it has never sought nuclear arms, a position rejected by several Western governments.

Araghchi earlier said diplomacy conducted through military threats could not be effective. However, a harder line was taken by Ali Shamkani, an adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who warned that any US military action would be considered the start of war and would trigger an unprecedented response, including strikes on Tel Aviv.

After Trump’s remarks, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran’s leadership was at its weakest point, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the country’s days were numbered following a deadly crackdown on protests. France and Germany have backed efforts to label Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organisation within the European Union.

Anti-government protests that erupted in late December led to more than 6,200 deaths, according to a US-based rights group, which said over 42,000 people were arrested. Iran has also engaged regional allies, with Qatar, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia calling for de-escalation.