Military analysts note that Iran's terrain presents significant challenges for conventional military operations. The country's mountainous interior and the concentrated urban population around Tehran would complicate any ground campaign. The US military has estimated that securing Iran would require a force several times larger than the 2003 Iraq invasion.

Araghchi also warned that Iran retains the capability to strike US interests throughout the region. "We have shown restraint in targeting American forces directly," he said. "But if they invade our soil, all options are on the table."

The foreign minister's combative rhetoric contrasts with more cautious signals from other Iranian officials. President Masoud Pezeshkian, elected last year on a platform of engagement with the West, has been notably absent from public view since the conflict began, suggesting internal disagreement about how to respond to the crisis.

Diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire have so far failed to gain traction. China and Russia have called for an immediate end to hostilities, but the United States has insisted that any ceasefire must include provisions preventing Iran from reconstituting its nuclear program.

The interview was notable for what Araghchi did not say. He avoided any mention of Iran's nuclear capabilities or timeline, a subject of intense speculation as the conflict continues. Western intelligence agencies assess that Iran could produce enough weapons-grade uranium for a nuclear device within weeks if it chose to do so, though weaponization would take longer.

As the conflict enters its second week, both sides appear to be settling in for an extended confrontation rather than seeking off-ramps to de-escalation.