Iran has spurned two messages from Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, seeking a ceasefire as its leaders sense it is not losing the war and the US president is at the minimum feeling the political pressure.
The foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, has further said a unilateral declaration from Trump that the US had won the war would not bring an end to the conflict. The implication is that even if the US announced a willingness to end its attacks, Iran might be willing to continue the conflict in some form, or keep its chokehold on shipping seeking to navigate the strait of Hormuz.
Iran believes there can be no end to the conflict until it believes Trump has been shown the economic, political and military cost is so high that it is not worth repeating. It is instead insisting on a permanent deal that includes a US commitment not to attack Iran again.
“Certainly, we aren’t seeking a ceasefire,” Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said on US social media company X.
“We believe the aggressor must be punished and taught a lesson that will deter them from attacking Iran again.”
The Iranian speaker accused Israel of perpetuating a recurring pattern of conflict and diplomacy.
“The Zionist regime (Israel) has consistently perpetuated a vicious cycle of ‘war, negotiations, ceasefire, then war again’ throughout its disgusting history. We will break this cycle,” he said.
