By Emmanuel Bobby
Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, has rejected calls for a ceasefire in the Middle East conflict, saying Iran must continue fighting to defend its people.
In an interview on Meet the Press, Araghchi said the United States and Israel were responsible for escalating the conflict.
“The U.S. and Israel are killing our people, they are killing girl students, you know, they are attacking hospitals,” he said.
Araghchi argued that any discussion of a ceasefire was unrealistic because previous agreements had already collapsed. He said the two countries had broken the ceasefire that ended last year’s 12-day war.
“And now you want to ask for a ceasefire again? This doesn’t work like this,” he said.
“There needs to be a permanent end to the war. Unless we get to that, I think we need to continue fighting for the sake of our people and our security.”
Questions Over Russian Support
Reports have suggested that Russia may be providing intelligence to Iran about the location of U.S. forces in the Middle East, including information that could help identify American warships.
Araghchi acknowledged that Iran and Russia maintain close cooperation but declined to confirm whether Moscow was sharing intelligence on U.S. military assets.
“Cooperation between Iran and Russia is not something new, it’s not a secret,” he said. “They are helping us in many different directions. I don’t have any detailed information.”
In a separate interview, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said Washington was aware of the longstanding relationship between Russia and Iran.
“If they are providing anything, it certainly hasn’t been very effective,” Waltz said, adding that U.S. forces had inflicted major damage on Iran’s military capabilities, including its air force, navy and command systems.
“We know that both Russia and Iran have had this symbiotic relationship,” he said.
Iran Says Strikes Target U.S. Assets
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Saturday that Iran would stop attacking neighboring Gulf countries unless they assist U.S. or Israeli operations. He also apologized after Iranian strikes caused deaths in Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Oman.
Araghchi insisted Iran was not intentionally targeting its neighbors.
“We are attacking American bases, American installations, American assets, which are unfortunately located in the soils of our neighbors,” he said.
He added that Pezeshkian had apologized to people across the region for the disruption caused by the conflict and Iran’s retaliation.
Warning Over Possible Ground Invasion
Araghchi also warned that Iran would respond forcefully if U.S. troops were deployed on Iranian territory.
“If the U.S. deploys ground troops to Iran, we have very brave soldiers who are waiting for any enemy who enters into our soil, to fight with them and to kill them and destroy them,” he said.
Dispute Over Missile Capabilities
President Donald Trump has said the conflict was launched partly because Iran was close to developing missiles capable of reaching the United States.
Araghchi dismissed that claim.
“This is in fact misinformation,” he said. “We have the capability to produce missiles, but we have intentionally limited ourselves to below 2,000 kilometers of range because we don’t want to be felt as a threat by anybody else in the world.”
Uncertainty Over Iran’s Next Supreme Leader
Iran’s Assembly of Experts is expected to choose a new supreme leader after the death of Ali Khamenei in recent strikes.
Araghchi said the decision rests entirely with Iran’s political system and people.
“Nobody knows,” he said of the successor. “There are lots of rumors around. But we have to wait for the Assembly of Experts to convene.”
He also rejected suggestions that the United States could influence the choice.
“We will allow nobody to interfere in our domestic affairs,” he said. “This is up to the Iranian people to elect their new leader.”
U.S. Demands “Unconditional Surrender”
Trump wrote on Truth Social that the United States would not reach an agreement with Iran “except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER.”
Asked about the statement, Waltz said the final meaning of that demand would be determined by the president.
“We’re ahead of schedule, and what he ultimately wants is pretty much common sense,” Waltz said. “We have to have an Iranian government that no longer threatens the American people, threatens our allies and threatens the world, and holds the world’s energy supplies hostage through both its missiles and its navy.”
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