Iran has rejected the idea of a temporary ceasefire and is instead pushing for a broader end to the fighting across the Middle East, Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey on Friday.
Speaking to reporters, he said Tehran would not accept a short-term pause and wants any settlement to cover the wider regional conflict, not just one front. He described this as a “red line” for Iran.
Khatibzadeh said any ceasefire would have to include the multiple flashpoints that have intensified in recent weeks, including Lebanon and the Red Sea, and argued that the cycle of violence should end “once and for all.”
His remarks come as regional diplomacy has accelerated, with Turkey urging “constructive” US-Iran talks and saying it wants a ceasefire to evolve into a permanent truce. Moreover, reports said that Ankara has been in contact with Washington, Tehran and mediator Pakistan, while discussions remain fragile and inconclusive.
The comments also reflect mounting concern over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping lane that Iran says has historically remained open despite the crisis.
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Khatibzadeh said the waterway lies within Iran's territorial waters but has long been accessible to the world, underscoring Tehran's message that it does not want a disruption that could further rattle global trade and energy markets.
Meanwhile, Iran warned a US naval blockade could threaten the ceasefire and said it could halt trade in the Gulf if pressure on its vessels continues.
The broader backdrop is a region already under strain from repeated rounds of violence, shifting ceasefire proposals and diplomatic efforts that have yet to produce a durable settlement.
The earlier US-Iran talks ended without agreement, with core disputes still unresolved, including Iran's nuclear programme and wider regional security concerns. Against that backdrop, Iran's latest statement signals that Tehran is not interested in a limited truce unless it is tied to a wider political reset across the conflict zone.
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