Transcript: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” Feb. 22, 2026

The following is the transcript of an interview with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi aired on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on Feb. 22, 2026.

MARGARET BRENNAN: We now turn to the escalating tensions between the US and Iran. The US has amassed what is, in some ways, the largest military buildup in the region since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, as the world’s largest warship is also headed to the region. But President Trump has said he would like to make a deal with Iran. For the latest, we now go to Tehran with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Welcome to ‘Face The Nation.’

FOREIGN MINISTER ABBAS ARAGHCHI: Yes, thank you, Margaret. Thank you so much for being with me tonight.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So do you believe that President Trump is planning to strike Iran, or is he using this threat as leverage?

PRIME MINISTER ARAGHCHI: Well, I’m not – I can’t judge. But one truth is that if they want to find a solution to Iran’s peaceful nuclear program, the only way is through dialogue. And we’ve proven this in the past, and I believe still, there’s still a good opportunity to have a game-based solution to victory, and the solution is within us. So there is no need for any military buildup. And the military structure cannot help you, and it cannot suppress us.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, he said on Friday that he would have a draft proposal within two to three days. Did you get the top leader to sign off on that proposal? And if so, when will you give it to delegate Steve Witkoff?

PRIME MINISTER ARAGHCHI: Well, we are still working on that, and we are trying to make it something that contains things that can address the concerns and interests of both sides, and we are working on those elements. And I believe that when we meet, maybe this Thursday, in Geneva again, we can work on those aspects and prepare a good text and reach a quick agreement. This is my understanding. I see it is possible.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So you confirmed the meeting with Steve Witkoff on Thursday in Geneva, but your leadership has not yet signed off on the proposal. Is that so?

PRIME MINISTER ARAGHCHI: But these are two different things. Yes, we are continuing our discussion. Ngesikhathi esifanayo sisebenza kukho-on-on-on-on-on-on-on-on-on-on-on-on-on-on-on-on-on on izici zedili, kanye nohlaka lombhalo. So I hope that when we get there, we are ready to talk and discuss those plans.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, let me ask you this. He helped negotiate that 2015 nuclear deal under the Obama administration. How could this deal with Trump be any different than this one?

PRIME MINISTER ARAGHCHI: Yes, 10 years have passed, and there is a new situation. Our nuclear program has developed, very technologically advanced at that time, and there are, of course, more sanctions and more pressures. So I believe that a better deal than the JCPOA or the 2015 nuclear deal is possible. And there are features that could be much better than the previous deal. So–

MARGARET BRENNAN: –How?

PRIME MINISTER ARACHI: I have knowledge – I have knowledge of that – that deal, as you say, I have discussed that deal. We’ve gone into a lot of detail, but I think right now, there’s no need for that much detail. We can agree on the basics, and we can ensure that Iran’s program, the nuclear program, is peaceful and will remain peaceful forever, and at the same time, additional sanctions will be lifted.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, as soon as you talk about nuclear, you’re only giving the nuclear deal at this stage? Because Secretary Rubio said anything that makes sense will also include missiles and your support of proxies in the region.

PRIME MINISTER ARAGHCHI: Right now, we are discussing only nuclear weapons and no other topic.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Right. Would you agree to allow weapons inspectors unfettered access to your nuclear sites and American inspectors to be among them?

PRIME MINISTER ARAGHCHI: Yes, we are a committed member of the NPT, the Non-Proliferation Treaty, and we have a safeguards agreement with the agency, the International Atomic Energy Agency, and we are ready to cooperate with the agency fully, in terms of, you know, safeguards and we may accept, in certain circumstances, an additional safeguards protocol, to the NPT. And I think that the full verification method, the full monitoring method, is acceptable and can be.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay, so you keep saying that your nuclear program is peaceful. And you know, there are many skeptics around the world, including in the United States Congress. There is pressure on President Trump from his party. There were 52 Republican senators, 177 House Republicans who asked President Trump to seek the complete enrichment and complete elimination of your nuclear program. Why should President Trump consider allowing Iran to have very little enrichment?

PRIME MINISTER ARAGHCHI: First, self-enrichment is our right. We are a member of the NPT, and we have every right to enjoy peaceful nuclear energy, including enrichment. How we use this right is something that you know is only related to us. Enrichment is a critical part of our discussions. The American team knows about- they know our situation, we know their situation, and we have already changed our concerns, and I think that the solution is achievable, but I will not discuss it with the media.

MARGARET BRENNAN: No, I understand, but we’ve seen very public statements from the president that he said there is no enrichment, and that’s a red line. But if you say it’s your right, that’s fine, but you can find enriched uranium and buy it somewhere else. You know this. You have done this. Is seeking the right to enrich Iran’s soil really worth the risk right now? You face the potential destruction of your country and empire based on the type of military we are looking at.

PRIME MINISTER ARAGHCHI: Well, I think that as an independent country, we have the right to decide for ourselves. We developed this technology ourselves, with our scientists, and we love it very much, because we paid a lot of money – we paid a lot of money for that. We’ve been under sanctions for at least 20 years and we’ve lost our scientists, and we’ve had a war because of it. So that is now a matter of dignity and pride for Iranians, and we will not let it go. There is no legal reason to do that, while everything is peaceful, while everything is protected by the agency, while we had an agreement in the past where we were- we remain fully committed to that, and you know, it was the US that just withdrew without reason. So we are a committed member of the NPT. We want to exercise our right. We want to have our right and use it.

MARGARET BRENNAN: But you understand that this could be make or break for you here. I mean, look, your air defenses were pretty much demolished by Israel this past summer. They rule your battle. Kill the leader of your most powerful Hezbollah proxy in the United States and bomb your underground nuclear facilities. Your economy is in bad shape right now. So why do you think the state can survive unless you stop this?

PRIME MINISTER ARAGHCHI: Well, that’s not the case when you talk about air defense and the war we had with Israel. You know, yes, we had a problem with our air defense, but the Israelis also had a problem with their air defense and our missiles were able to hit targets inside Israel. So you know, they started a war, but after 12 days, they called for a ceasefire, an unconditional ceasefire. Why? Because they could not protect themselves from our missiles. So we have a very good missile capability, and we are now in a better position than in the previous war. So, in fact, we are in a strong defensive position. We know how to protect ourselves. We did it in the 12-day war, and we are fully prepared to repeat that, if necessary.

MARGARET BRENNAN: With respect, Israel has a higher morale than Iran. But let’s talk about what you mean–what you mean in your terms–

PRIME MINISTER ARAGHCHI: –no, our missiles- our missiles are also- our missiles are also high above Israel’s territory. They can hit their goals. They hit their targets the right way, and they can do it again.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Right. Well, there are 40,000 American workers in the Middle East right now, in Iran’s letter to the UN Security Council, he seems to threaten them, because he said America will bear the full burden. You said you don’t want war. But if that happens, all bases, facilities and assets of hostile forces in the region will be legitimate targets. Are you saying Iran will hit US bases in the Gulf, or will you bomb your neighboring Gulf countries?

PRIME MINISTER ARAGHCHI: Well, I will not say what exactly we will do. Obviously, we are defending ourselves. If the US attacks- it attacks us, so we have the right to defend ourselves. If the US attacks, that is an act of aggression. What we do in response is a defensive action. So-and it’s justifiable and legal. So our missiles cannot hit American soil. So obviously we have to do something else. We have to hit, you know, the American base in the region. That-that-that’s true. I am an ambassador. I shouldn’t talk, you know, about our military plans, but what I can say is why should we go to war when there is every possibility of a peaceful solution?

MARGARET BRENNAN: Mr. Minister of Foreign Affairs, I have many questions for you, but I am running out of time here. We will watch this diplomacy carefully to see what happens in the coming days. Thank you for joining us. We’ll be back now–

PRIME MINISTER ARAGHCHI: Thank you, thank you–

MARGARET BRENNAN: –and more ‘Facing the Nation.’ Stay with us.