Iran Not Seeking Ceasefire, Ready to Defend Itself 'As Long As It Takes': Iranian FM

Tehran: Iran has made it clear that it is not seeking a ceasefire or negotiations with the United States and is prepared to defend itself for as long as necessary, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said.

In an interview with CBS News aired on Sunday, Araghchi rejected claims that Tehran had requested an end to the hostilities.

“We never asked for a ceasefire, and we have never asked even for negotiations. We are ready to defend ourselves as long as it takes,” he said.

The minister added that Iran would continue its operations until Donald Trump recognises that the conflict is, in his words, “an illegal war with no victory.”

Araghchi said Tehran sees no reason to engage in talks with Washington, noting that negotiations were already underway when the US launched attacks on Iran. “We were talking with them when they decided to attack us, and that was for the second time,” he said.

Addressing concerns about the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, Araghchi said Iran has not blocked the waterway. He added that decisions regarding the passage of vessels are taken by the country’s military, which has allowed ships from several nations to pass through the strait.

On the nuclear issue, the Iranian minister reiterated that Tehran has never sought to develop nuclear weapons. He also revealed that Iran had agreed to dilute its enriched uranium during discussions with the United States before the recent attacks.

However, he said that the enriched uranium is now buried under debris after strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. “Everything is under the rubble,” he said, adding that Iran currently has no plans to recover the stockpiles from the damaged sites.

Earlier on Sunday, Araghchi told the pan-Arab news outlet Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that Iran has information suggesting that the US and Israel are launching attacks from certain locations against Arab states in West Asia.

He questioned claims that Iran was responsible for strikes on some regional Arab countries and said Tehran is ready to hold talks with those states and establish a joint committee to investigate the incidents.

According to Araghchi, Iran’s military strikes have targeted only US bases and interests, describing them as retaliatory actions following attacks launched from those locations.