Iran Says Ceasefire Is Impossible While U.S. and Israel Continue Attacks
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has rejected calls for a ceasefire, accusing the United States and Israel of continuing attacks that Tehran says have killed civilians and destroyed critical infrastructure.
Araghchi said Iran cannot accept temporary ceasefires that are repeatedly broken while its population remains under attack. According to the Iranian government, civilian areas including hospitals and schools have been struck during the conflict.
“The United States and Israel are killing our people,” Araghchi said. “You cannot bomb our cities and then ask us to stop defending ourselves. If there is no permanent end to the aggression, we will continue fighting for the sake of our people and our security.”
His remarks highlight growing anger inside Iran over what officials describe as a campaign of military aggression carried out under the justification of security threats that Tehran insists are exaggerated or fabricated.
Iran Accuses Washington of Starting an Illegal War
Iranian officials argue that the conflict was initiated by Washington and its allies without clear legal justification under international law.
Critics of the war point out that military action against a sovereign nation without authorization from the United Nations Security Council raises serious questions about legality under the International Criminal Court framework governing acts of aggression.
Tehran maintains that it is engaged in a defensive war against foreign military intervention.
Araghchi said Iran’s position is simple: attacks must stop permanently before any discussion of a ceasefire can occur.
“A ceasefire that only allows the aggressor to regroup and attack again is not peace,” he said.
Russia’s Support Signals a Wider Geopolitical Shift
The war has also exposed shifting global alliances, particularly Iran’s growing partnership with Russia.
Araghchi acknowledged that Moscow is assisting Tehran in several ways, though he did not detail the exact nature of that support.
“Our cooperation with Russia is longstanding,” he said. “They are helping us in many different directions.”
Analysts warn that intelligence cooperation between the two countries could dramatically reshape the strategic balance in the conflict.
U.S. Claims of Military Success Face Skepticism
American officials have insisted that the war is proceeding successfully and that Iran’s military capabilities are being severely degraded.
Washington claims its forces have struck Iranian air defenses, naval assets, command centers, and military infrastructure across the country.
But critics argue that these statements echo a familiar pattern seen in past U.S. wars — declarations of rapid success followed by prolonged conflict.
Similar claims were made during earlier wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, conflicts that ultimately lasted decades and resulted in massive civilian casualties and regional instability.
Regional Countries Caught in the Crossfire
The war has also spread beyond Iran’s borders.
Recent missile strikes connected to the conflict caused civilian casualties in Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman, highlighting how quickly the conflict is spilling across the Gulf region.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian apologized to those countries, stating that Iran does not intend to attack its neighbors.
According to Iranian officials, the intended targets were American military bases located within those countries.
“We are targeting American military installations,” Araghchi said. “Unfortunately those installations are placed inside neighboring states.”
Iran Rejects U.S. Claims About Missile Threat
The justification for the war has also been fiercely contested.
U.S. President Donald Trump has argued that Iran was close to developing missiles capable of reaching the United States.
Araghchi dismissed those claims outright, calling them misinformation designed to justify military escalation.
He said Iran has deliberately limited the range of its missiles to under 2,000 kilometers.
“We have the capability to produce longer-range weapons,” he said. “But we intentionally restrict ourselves because we do not want to threaten countries outside our region.”
Leadership Transition After Khamenei’s Death
The conflict has also triggered uncertainty within Iran’s political leadership following the reported death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei during recent strikes.
Iran’s Assembly of Experts, the body responsible for selecting the country’s supreme leader, is expected to choose a successor.
Araghchi declined to speculate about who will take the position, saying the process is already underway.
Iran Rejects Foreign Interference in Its Government
Tehran also strongly rejected suggestions that outside powers should influence Iran’s political future.
Araghchi warned that attempts by foreign governments to shape Iran’s leadership would be viewed as interference in national sovereignty.
“The Iranian people will determine their own leadership,” he said. “No foreign government has the right to interfere in our domestic affairs.”
War With No Clear End in Sight
With Iran refusing to accept a ceasefire under continued bombing, and the United States showing no sign of halting its military campaign, the conflict appears poised to escalate further.
Diplomats warn that continued escalation could destabilize the entire Middle East and draw additional global powers into a war that already carries the risk of spiraling far beyond the region.
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