Iran Issues Ultimatum to US Over Talks Amid Rising Regional Tensions | NewsX World

Added: 2026-05-28

[00:00:01]Those are your top stories for this hour. We should start with some developments coming out of the Iran conflict with the United States. Iran's foreign ministry has issued a stark ultimatum to the White House declaring that Tehran is fully prepared to enter diplomatic negotiations or return to the battlefield depending on Washington's next moves. Speaking at a commemoration ceremony in Tehran, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi sent a clear warning amid an increasingly fragile regional ceasefire. Araqchi stated that the Islamic Republic will fight whatever, whenever necessary and negotiate wherever is needed. Describing the dual approach as a core mission assigned to the country's diplomats and armed forces. The aggressive rhetoric comes as Pakistani mediated peace talks between Washington and Tehran remain deadlocked over Iran's nuclear ambitions and its strategic control of the Strait of Hormuz. While Araqchi noted that Iran is keeping the current ceasefire intact to give diplomacy a chance, he emphasized that Tehran maintains no trust in the United States citing contradictory messages from the Trump administration.

[00:01:27]Iran's top diplomat also warns that if channels fail completely, Iran will resume military action with the exact same resolve it shows on the diplomatic front. Let's take a listen in to the Iranian Foreign Minister and his statements.

[00:01:45]Ma Ma'am we have to go to July as Ma'am we have to go to the ground and we don't know me.

[00:01:50]How do you want to watch it? We can be changing how do you want to watch it? We can be changing how do you want to Ma'am we have to ask Ma'am we have to go to the ground and we don't know me.

[00:02:24]>> Our Zarif, the Iranian Foreign Minister there. Joining us to discuss this is Craig Peacock, the chief advisor of Kujaku Japan Advisory. Joining us live from the Japanese capital of Tokyo.

[00:02:38]Thank you very much Zarif for joining us. It's great to have you here on the broadcast. Now, some stark statements coming from the Iranian Foreign Minister. That is however is nothing new. Craig, Mr. Peacock, how things stand? Um how likely is a new round of negotiations mediated by the Pakistanis?

[00:03:04]Uh it's a very interesting question, Thomas. And thank you again. Um it's good to be here.

[00:03:09]I think Iran's message is deliberately dual track, which you mentioned earlier.

[00:03:14]Um it is saying that it remains open to diplomacy, but only on terms that do not look like surrender.

[00:03:20]Arachi is trying to to signal resilience at home, I think, and deterrence to Washington and Israel. And seriousness uh to countries like China, India, and the Gulf states that want maritime stability restored. So, the key point in in that Iran does not want to appear cornered, I think. Um when Tehran says it's ready to negotiate or fight, that is not just rhetoric. Um it's a a warning that pressure alone may not produce a settlement, especially while issues um such as uh the nuclear files, sanctions, and the security of the Strait of Hormuz remain unresolved. Um Reuters recently uh reported um that Iraq is saying that Iran has no trust in the United States and would negotiate only if Washington is serious. Well, I think um it's a a little bit of a quid pro quo situation going on there. Mr. Peacock, of course, there is much to unpack here when it comes to those points of negotiation.

[00:04:22]However, those two main ones that we've spoken about, the Strait of Hormuz um and Iran's nuclear ambitions, um who needs a deal more right now? Iran or the United States on the diplomatic front given those two points of contention which have been the only two points of contention which have pretty much been consistent as the focal points throughout this conflict.

[00:04:48]I think they both need a deal to with some for for slightly differing reasons.

[00:04:53]Um the danger here though is is miscalculation. Um both sides are using very hard language and both also understand the enormous cost um that a wider conflict could produce. So, the Strait of Hormuz remains a central because any escalation there immediately becomes a global uh energy security problem and not just a a regional um military issue. So, um yeah, they both have they both have um enormous stakes in the in this.

[00:05:26]Mr. Peacock, stay with us as we turn over to Europe for our next story.

[00:05:32]Moscow has announced that nuclear