Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran

Tehran, Jan 31: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday said Tehran is ready to engage with regional countries to safeguard peace and stability, as the United States steps up its military presence in the Middle East amid rising tensions with Iran.

“Iran always stands ready to engage with regional states to protect peace and stability in our region and shield it from unlawful aggression,” Araghchi said in a post on X.

His remarks come amid reports of fresh US military deployments in the region, including the arrival of the USS Delbert D. Black, one of six US destroyers, along with an aircraft carrier and three other littoral combat ships.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Istanbul on Friday, Araghchi said Iran was prepared to resume negotiations based on equality and mutual interests, according to Iran’s IRNA news agency.

“Iran has never sought nuclear weapons and is ready to embrace a fair and equitable nuclear deal that meets the legitimate interests of our people; this includes ensuring ‘No Nuclear Weapons’ and guaranteeing the lifting of sanctions,” he said.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump indicated he was open to talks with Iran, even as Washington sends additional military assets to the Middle East.

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said the US military was ready to execute whatever course of action the president decides.

Trump has warned Iran to return to negotiations over its nuclear programme or face significantly harsher US action. Tehran, on the other hand, has threatened retaliation against the United States, Israel, and their allies in the event of any attack.

Trump also claimed the US has an “armada” moving towards Iran, though he added he hoped it would not be used.