‘We could have been bombed’: Iran FM reveals what he told Trump’s envoy

‘Negotiating Under the Shadow of Bombs’

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has offered a stark account of his negotiations with the Trump administration, revealing that he believed an American bombing could have been imminent at any moment.

In a series of interviews marking a grim milestone in the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran, Araghchi described the psychological weight of talks that took place as the US military posture in the region escalated. He said he directly told President Donald Trump’s special envoy that the negotiations were unfolding under the constant threat of air strikes.

“I told him, ‘We could have been bombed,’” Araghchi said, recalling the conversation. The remark lays bare the high-stakes environment in which the backchannel discussions occurred, far from the formal settings of previous nuclear talks.

‘Might Be the Last Call to My Family’

The Iranian foreign minister did not hold back on the personal toll of the negotiations. He recounted telling the US envoy that, before each round of talks, he would call his family unsure if he would return.

“I said, ‘This might be the last call to my family. Have you ever negotiated fearing death?’” Araghchi stated. His comments underscore a sense of mortal risk that he claimed was absent from the American side of the table.

Araghchi’s account suggests that the nuclear file was not the only subject on the table—the very survival of the negotiating team was a recurring theme. The envoy, whose name has not been officially confirmed by either side, reportedly did not directly respond to the question.

Who Decides on War and Ceasefire?

In a clear signal to both domestic and international audiences, Araghchi stressed that the final authority on any military decision rests with Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

“The Supreme Leader has the final word on war and ceasefire,” Araghchi said. The remark appeared aimed at dispelling any notion that the foreign ministry or even the presidency held independent power to authorise or halt hostilities.

This clarification comes as Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared that the country is engaged in a “full-scale war” with the United States. Day 143 of what some analysts call the US-Israel war on Iran has seen intensified rhetoric and military exchanges, though ground combat has not been officially confirmed.

A Diplomat’s Burden

Araghchi, a veteran diplomat who previously served as Iran’s lead nuclear negotiator, has been thrust back into the spotlight as the point person for talks with an administration that has pursued a policy of “maximum pressure” and military threats.

His latest remarks paint a picture of a negotiator who walked a tightrope between diplomacy and disaster. The question of whether the US envoy shared Araghchi’s fear of an imminent bombing remains unanswered. What is clear is that the Iranian foreign minister wanted his counterpart to understand the gravity of the moment.

The Iranian public, already weary from years of sanctions and regional conflicts, has received these revelations with a mix of anxiety and resignation. Social media in Iran has been buzzing with reactions, many questioning whether diplomacy can succeed when one side feels its negotiators are bargaining for their lives.

What Comes Next

With both sides dug into their positions and the Supreme Leader holding ultimate authority in Tehran, the prospect of a diplomatic off-ramp remains uncertain. The coming weeks are likely to see more such raw disclosures from Iranian officials as the war of narratives intensifies alongside the military conflict.