Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran is fully prepared for war with the United States to resume, even if it comes to what he called a doomsday war. He made the remarks in an interview with NBC News’ Meet the Press aired on September 27.

Araghchi was responding to a Wall Street Journal report that President Donald Trump had rejected Iran’s seven-day ceasefire proposal and told aides he expects to resume bombing Iran after the November midterm elections. The foreign minister said Iran would stand firm against any new aggression.

At the same time, Araghchi left the door open to diplomacy. “It is up to President Trump to choose,” he said, adding that Trump’s rejection of Tehran’s proposal had not been formally communicated through diplomatic channels.

Trump struck a more measured tone at the Presidents Cup, saying a resumption of US strikes was possible but that he did not want to say so. He also claimed that once the war was won, oil prices would fall sharply. The exchange keeps tensions high as the conflict’s next phase remains undecided.