Speaking on Wednesday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said Iran is “closely monitoring developments in the field and political arena” and will take “necessary and appropriate measures to safeguard Iran’s national interests and security.”
He added that Iran’s Armed Forces are “fully vigilant and ready for comprehensive and decisive defense of Iran’s integrity against any threat and malicious act.”
Baqaei made the remarks in response to a request by Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, who called for extending the April 8 ceasefire between Iran and the United States.
He expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s “good offices and mediation efforts aimed at ending the imposed war and establishing peace in the region,” while emphasizing that “the Islamic Republic of Iran was not the initiator of this imposed war.”
Iran’s actions have all been “within the framework of the inherent right of legitimate defense against the military aggression of the United States and the Zionist regime,” he added.
On the possibility of a new round of negotiations with Washington, he stated, “Diplomacy is a tool for securing national interests and security, and whenever we conclude that the necessary and reasonable conditions exist to use this tool… we will take action.”
US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he would extend the ceasefire at the request of Pakistan while maintaining the blockade and military readiness against the Islamic Republic.
On April 8, after 40 days of US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran, Tehran and Washington reached a two-week ceasefire brokered by Pakistan, followed by inconclusive negotiations to permanently end the war.
