Iran’s FM: We won’t surrender, Trump must apologize, no one can ‘interfere’ with selection of new supreme leader

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says US President Donald Trump should apologize to Iran and Gulf states for starting the ongoing war against the Islamic Republic.

“It is the president of the United States who should apologize to the people of the region and the Iranian people for the killing and destruction they have done against us,” Araghchi says on NBC’s Meet the Press.

Araghchi tells the US network that despite the killing of top Iranian officials, Iran’s government continues to manage the country and “everything is in its place.”

He also rejects Trump’s claim that he would decide who the next leader of Iran will be. “We allow nobody to interfere with our domestic affairs,” says Araghchi.

Araghchi says Iran will never accede to Trump’s demand that the war end with Iran’s “unconditional surrender.”

“No surrender,” he says. “We continue to resist as long as it takes.”

Araghchi also says that Iran will not necessarily accept a ceasefire if the US offers one.

“Last time, we accepted the ceasefire, but this time is quite different,” says Araghchi.

“After attacking a second time in a year, they want to ask for a ceasefire again?” says Iran’s top diplomat. “It doesn’t work like this. There should be a permanent end to the war. Unless we get to that, I think we need to continue fighting.”

NOW – Reporter: "Are you afraid of a U.S. invasion in your country?"
Araghchi: "No, we are waiting for them."
Reporter: "You are waiting for the U.S. military to invade, the ground troops?!"
Araghchi: "Yes!" pic.twitter.com/0L0cNXLopd

— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) March 5, 2026

He denies that Iran is targeting neighboring countries in the Middle East, despite ample footage of damage to civilian sites in Gulf countries.

“We are attacking American bases… which are unfortunately located on the soil of our neighbors,” he says.

Araghchi talks tough in the face of reports that Trump is considering the use of special forces on the ground in Iran.

“We have brave soldiers who are waiting for an enemy who enters our soil, to fight with them, to kill them and destroy them,” he says.

Amid reports that Russia is helping Iran target US troops in the region, Araghchi won’t deny cooperation, but won’t confirm the accounts.

“The military cooperation between Iran and Russia is not something new,” he says. “It’s not a secret. It has been in the past and it’s still there and will continue in the future.”