Iranian Foreign Minister on CBS Says No Talks With U.S., Calls Conflict Trump’s 'War of Choice' and Claims Trump Attacks Iran 'Because It Is Fun'
Speaking on CBS's Face the Nation, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran "doesn't see any reason" to talk with the United States, denied ever asking for a ceasefire or negotiations, and said a pre‑war offer to dilute its enriched uranium — which he called a "big concession" — is no longer on the table. He accused President Trump of waging a "war of choice" and attacking Iran "because it is fun," defended Iranian strikes as self‑defense against U.S. assets and bases (including strikes he justified against the UAE), said the Strait of Hormuz has not been formally closed though some vessels are avoiding it, and claimed roughly 440 kilograms of enriched uranium are "under rubble" but could be retrieved under agency supervision.
📌 Key Facts
- Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran 'doesn't see any reason' to talk with the United States and that Iran 'never asked for a ceasefire' or for negotiations, flatly rejecting U.S. claims that Iran wants a deal.
- Araghchi said Iran previously offered to dilute its enriched uranium in pre‑war talks as a 'big concession' but that proposal is no longer on the table; any future offer would depend on if and when Iran chooses to negotiate again.
- Araghchi called the conflict 'a war of choice by President Trump and the United States,' accused Trump of launching attacks on Iran 'because it is fun,' and described the campaign as an 'illegal war.'
- He framed Iran’s military actions as ongoing 'self defense' that it will continue 'as long as it takes.'
- Araghchi asserted Iran is 'only targeting American assets, American installations, [and] American military bases' in neighboring Gulf states and argued strikes on countries like the UAE are justified because they 'use their soil to attack us.'
- He said Iran has not 'formally' closed the Strait of Hormuz but acknowledged that some vessels are avoiding it due to security concerns.
- Araghchi claimed roughly 440 kilograms of enriched uranium documented by inspectors are now 'under rubble' after strikes on nuclear facilities but could be retrieved 'under the supervision of the agency.'
📊 Relevant Data
In the United States, Black and Latino households pay 13-18% more on average for energy per square foot of housing compared to White households.
Low-income, Black, Hispanic, and disadvantaged households in the US face dramatically higher energy burdens, with one in four low-income households spending over 15% of their income on energy bills.
Study: One in Four Low-Income Households Spend Over 15% of Income on Energy Bills — ACEEE
In Lebanon, legally registered Muslims form around 54% of the population (including Shia and Sunni), while Christians form up to 41%.
2023 Report on International Religious Freedom: Lebanon — U.S. Department of State
Approximately 30% of global fertilizer shipments move through the Persian Gulf waterway, and disruptions there are contributing to higher fertilizer and food prices worldwide.
Strait of Hormuz closure: How supply shocks threaten American crops — FreightWaves
In Bahrain, Shia Muslims constitute nearly half of the Muslim population, and there is a significant Shia population in other Gulf states like Yemen (35%) and Lebanon (nearly half).
Shia Muslims in the Arab world — Wikipedia
📊 Analysis & Commentary (1)
"A Wall Street Journal editorial argues that Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons has been continuous despite the Obama-era deal and that recent reports about pre-war dilution offers and media framings understate Iran’s long-term intent—therefore endorsing forceful measures to weaken Tehran."
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Araghchi told CBS’s 'Face the Nation' that 'people are being killed only because President Trump wants to have fun,' accusing Trump of launching attacks on Iran 'because it is fun' and calling the conflict an 'illegal war.'
- He asserted that Iran is 'only targeting American assets, American installations, American military bases' in neighboring Gulf states and justified strikes on countries like the UAE by saying they 'use their soil to attack us.'
- Araghchi claimed Iran has not 'formally' closed the Strait of Hormuz but acknowledged that some vessels are avoiding it due to security concerns.
- He said roughly 440 kilograms of enriched uranium previously documented by inspectors are now 'under rubble' after strikes on nuclear facilities, but could be retrieved 'under the supervision of the agency.'
- He reiterated that Tehran had previously offered to dilute its stockpile but did so in the context of current damage to nuclear infrastructure.
- Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi publicly states, 'we don't see any reason why we should talk with Americans' and 'we never asked for a ceasefire, and we have never asked even for negotiation,' flatly rejecting President Trump’s recent claims that Iran wants a deal.
- Araghchi says that in pre‑war talks with Trump negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Iran offered to dilute its enriched uranium as what he calls a 'big concession' to show it does not seek nuclear weapons.
- He clarifies that this dilution proposal is no longer active, stating that 'there is nothing on the table right now' and that any future offer would depend on if and when Iran decides to negotiate again.
- Araghchi calls the conflict 'a war of choice by President Trump and the United States' and alleges 'people [are] being killed only because President Trump wants to have fun,' framing Iran’s actions as ongoing 'self defense' it will continue 'as long as it takes.'