💢 FM Araghchi to Al Jazeera: “We will not accept a ceasefire; we seek a complete end to the war—not only in Iran, but across the entire region.”
Here’s a full recap of the the interview:
1. No negotiations, only messages
▪️ What’s happening now is not negotiations but an exchange of messages, directly or through regional intermediaries
▪️ Araghchi said he receives messages from U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff directly, as before, but “this does not mean we are negotiating”
▪️ Messages include warnings and exchange of viewpoints, all messages are handled only through Iran’s Foreign Ministry and security channels
▪️ Exchanges are conducted within a defined framework under government and National Security Council oversight; there is no entity inside Iran that is negotiating with U.S.
▪️ Iran has not responded to the 15 point U.S. proposal and has made no counter-offers
2. War terms and conditions
▪️ Iran has not decided to enter negotiations and maintains clear conditions to end the war
▪️ Rejects a ceasefire, insisting on a full end to the war across the different fronts in the entire region
▪️ Demands guarantees against future attacks and compensation for damages
▪️ Said the Iranian people “cannot be threatened” and must be addressed with respect
3. Military posture and deterrence
▪️ Said the Strait of Hormuz remains open, except to those “fighting Iran”
▪️ Iran is prepared for a ground confrontation and warns against miscalculation
▪️ Says Iran did not start the war and is acting in self-defense
4. Regional relations
▪️ Said Iran is targeting only U.S. bases and assets, not Gulf states
▪️ Acknowledged trust with neighboring countries may be strained
▪️ Said Iran believes that trust can be rebuilt over time