Tehran,(Parliament Times): Iran has ruled out the possibility of an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stating that Tehran will continue fighting until a permanent end to the war is secured.
In an interview with NBC News, Araghchi said Iran could not agree to a temporary ceasefire, arguing that previous agreements had been violated. He accused the United States and Israel of targeting civilian areas, including hospitals and students, and said Iran must keep resisting to safeguard its people and national security.
“There needs to be a permanent end to the war,” he said, adding that Iran would continue its military response until such a resolution is achieved.
Addressing reports about Moscow’s role in the conflict, Araghchi acknowledged long-standing cooperation between Iran and Russia but did not confirm claims that Russia is providing intelligence on US military positions. Earlier reports suggested that Moscow had shared information that could assist Iran in locating American forces in the region.
Commenting on the reports, US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said that while Russia and Iran maintain what he described as a “symbiotic relationship,” any assistance from Moscow had not significantly affected US operations. He claimed American actions had already dealt major damage to Iran’s military capabilities.
Araghchi also addressed concerns about attacks on neighbouring Gulf countries. He said Iran had not deliberately targeted those nations but had instead struck US military bases and facilities located within their territories. He added that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had apologised to regional populations for the inconvenience caused by retaliatory operations.
On Iran’s missile programme, the foreign minister rejected US allegations that Tehran posed a direct threat to American territory. He said Iran had deliberately limited the range of its missiles to less than 2,000 kilometres.
Araghchi further confirmed that Iran’s Assembly of Experts had selected a new supreme leader following the death of Ali Khamenei, but he declined to reveal the identity of the successor. He stressed that the decision was strictly an internal matter and that Iran would not allow foreign interference in the leadership transition.
Meanwhile, tensions in the region continued to intensify. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said the country could sustain an intense conflict with the United States and Israel for up to six months if necessary.
The war, which has now entered its second week, has triggered wider regional repercussions. Saudi Arabia reported intercepting at least 15 drones that attempted to target areas including the diplomatic quarter in Riyadh, while Kuwait said drone strikes hit fuel storage tanks at its international airport, raising concerns about energy supplies.
The strike on Kuwait’s aviation fuel storage facility intensified fears over disruptions in global energy markets. The country’s national oil company also announced a reduction in crude production amid threats to the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas shipments pass.
Iran also accused the United States and Israel of attacking an oil depot in Tehran, marking the first reported strike on the country’s oil infrastructure. The Israeli military confirmed targeting several fuel storage sites, saying they were used to support Iranian military operations.
Israel stated that its forces had launched further strikes across Tehran, including a precision operation targeting commanders of the Quds Force at a seaside hotel in Beirut.
Israeli officials said the operations were aimed at weakening Iran’s military capabilities and removing threats to Israel.
The conflict has also drawn strong statements from US President Donald Trump, who has demanded Iran’s “unconditional surrender,” arguing that Tehran posed an imminent threat and was close to developing nuclear weapons.
Reports have also suggested that the United States and Israel are discussing the possibility of deploying special forces into Iran at a later stage of the conflict to secure highly enriched uranium stockpiles.
Despite President Pezeshkian’s apology to neighbouring countries for attacks on US facilities within their territories, drone strikes linked to Iran have continued to target locations in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, further heightening tensions across the Gulf region.