'We won the war, won diplomacy': Araghchi says Iran pushed US war so it could control ceasefire

Jerusalem Post/Middle East/Iran NewsAraghchi concluded by saying that "those who tried to impose unconditional surrender on Iran begged for negotiations shortly after the war began."Follow us on GoogleFOREIGN MINISTER of Iran Abbas Araghchi, and Speaker of Iran Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf with the delegation of Iran at the Lake Lucerne Summit at the Buergenstock resort in Obbuergen, near Lucerne, Switzerland, Sunday, June 21, 2026.(photo credit: Urs Flueeler/Pool via REUTERS)ByLIA WEINAUGUST 18, 2026 10:25Iran pushed to continue the war with the United States in order to force a ceasefire on its own terms, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said during a conference with Iranian educators on Tuesday."We were the ones who refused the ceasefire and continued the war until we reached a point where they [the US] agreed to a ceasefire and negotiations on Iran's terms," Araghchi said. "We fought with strength and negotiated with strength, and we won the war, and we won the diplomacy."According to Araghchi, "The Iranian people stood against what was supposedly the largest military in the world, which was supported and assisted by most Western countries and by several other countries in the region and beyond."Araghchi concluded by saying that "those who tried to impose unconditional surrender on Iran begged for negotiations shortly after the war began."US President Donald Trump holds up the memorandum of understanding, signed by the US, and Iran, at the Palace of Versailles, in France. (credit: SCREENSHOT/TRUTH SOCIAL)Trump says Iran should raise white flag, threatens Oman over HormuzOn Monday, US President Donald Trump told FOX News that Iran should raise "the white flag of surrender," and that he has "no time schedule" and is in "no hurry" to make a deal. The Iranians are "good poker players, but they're dying," said Trump.He also warned that “if Oman gets in the way [of US control in the Strait of Hormuz], we’ll bomb the s*** out of them."Regarding US munitions used against Iran, Trump said that what has been used so far against Iran "is peanuts."Miriam Sela-Eitam contributed to this report.Follow us on Google