Iranian foreign minister on potential U.S. strikes and nuclear weapons

(CBS, KYMA) - Abbas Araghchi, Iranian Foreign Minister, spoke with Margaret Brennan on Face the Nation Sunday on potential U.S. strikes.

According to Brennan, the U.S. assembled the "biggest military buildup in the region since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, as the world's largest warship also heads towards the region," but President Donald Trump said he prefers a diplomatic deal with Iran.

When asked if he believes President Trump plans to strike Iran, or if he's using the threat as leverage, Araghchi said:

"I cannot judge. But one fact is there that if they want to find a resolution for Iran's peaceful nuclear program, the only way is diplomacy. And we have proved this in the past, and I believe that still, there is a good chance to have a diplomatic solution which is based on a win-win game, and a solution is at our reach. So there is no need for any military buildup. And military buildup cannot help it, and cannot pressurize us."

Brennan followed up by saying Araghchi would have a draft proposal within two to three days, leading her to ask if he has gotten the supreme leader to sign off on the proposal, and if so, will he give it to Steve Witkoff, and Araghchi said:

"We are still working on that, and we are trying to make it something which consists of elements which can accommodate both sides' concerns and interests, and we are working on those elements. And I believe that when we meet, probably this Thursday, in Geneva again, we can work on those elements and prepare a good text and come to a fast deal. This is my understanding. I see it quite possible."

During the interview, Brennan and Araghchi talked about nuclear weapons, with Brennan saying 52 Republican senators and 177 House Republicans calling on Trump to demand zero enrichment and full dismantlement of Iran's nuclear program.

This prompted her to ask the foreign minister why the president should consider allowing Iran to have the smallest bit of enrichment, to which Araghchi said:

"First of all, enrichment is our right. We are a member of NPT, and we have every right to enjoy a peaceful nuclear energy, including enrichment. How we use this right is something you know related to us only. The enrichment is a sensitive part of our negotiation. The American team know about...they know our position, we know their position, and we have already exchanged our concerns, and I think a solution is achievable, but I'm not going to negotiate through media."

Brennan followed up by asking if demanding the right to enrich on Iranian soil is really worth the risk right now, and the foreign minister said:

"I think, as a sovereign country, we have every right to decide for ourselves, by ourselves. We have developed this technology by ourselves, by our scientists, and it's very dear to us, because we have paid a lot...we have paid a huge expense for that. We have been on the sanctions for at least 20 years and we have lost our scientists, and we have had a war because of that. So that is now a matter of dignity and pride for Iranians, and we are not going to give it up. There is no legal reason to do that, while everything is peaceful, while everything is safeguarded by the agency, while we had an agreement in the past when we were...we remain fully committed to that, and you know, it was the U.S. who just withdrew with no justification. So we are a committed member of NPT. We want to use our right. We want to have our right and to exercise that."

To watch more of Brennan's interview with Araghchi, click here.