27.07.2026 15:41
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Baghai denied claims of a 10-day ceasefire with the US, stating that no negotiations are currently underway, diplomacy could be used as a tool for national interests, but the current focus is on defense.
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ismail Bekayi denied reports of a 10-day ceasefire agreement with the US during his weekly press conference, stating, "We are not currently engaged in any negotiations with the US."
"WHAT MATTERS TO US..."
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ismail Bekayi addressed the conflict with the US and its global implications in his weekly press conference. Commenting on the joint proposal by Pakistan and Qatar to resume ceasefire negotiations between the US and Iran, Bekayi said, "The war expected to collapse Iran and force it to surrender within three days has, after five months, turned into a quagmire of their own making. What matters to us are our national interests and national security. Determining a country's interests is not a single-variable equation; it involves many elements."
"WE WILL DEFEND AS LONG AS NECESSARY"
Stating that decisions are made in Iran through a transparent process involving all relevant institutions, the spokesman noted that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is one of the institutions involved in this process.
Emphasizing that they will never allow the US to determine the timing of war and peace, the spokesman said, "We will defend as long as necessary in line with our interests and requirements. When we believe we can use diplomacy to protect our national interests, we will employ it as a tool."
"WE WANT GOOD RELATIONS WITH REGIONAL COUNTRIES"
Evaluating the joint statement issued by the US Secretary of State and the foreign ministers of Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bekayi said, "As Iran, we want to establish good relations with regional countries, and we hold no hostility toward any regional country." Noting that there are strong ties between Iran and Gulf countries that could form the basis of trust and mutual cooperation, Iranian Spokesman Bekayi claimed that despite this, some countries have allowed their territories to be used in attacks against Iran, in violation of international law and principles of good neighborliness.
"NUCLEAR ENERGY IS THE RIGHT OF ALL COUNTRIES"
Stating that the peaceful use of nuclear energy is the right of all countries under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Ismail Bekayi argued there is a contradiction between the US stance on Iran's nuclear program and its approach toward Saudi Arabia. Bekayi said, "The peaceful use of nuclear energy is the right of all countries according to the NPT. The pretext for the steps taken by the US and its allies against Iran has been Iran's insistence on exercising its right under this treaty." Noting that they leave the contradictions in the US stance "to the assessment of world public opinion," the Iranian spokesman argued that "the illegality and selective approaches in US behavior will become evident."
"THE UK VIOLATED THE UN CHARTER"
Claiming that the US used military bases in the UK to support its military operations against Iran, the Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman said they expected the new British government to act more rationally than the previous one, but it has followed the same path. Bekayi stated, "During the US and Israeli regime's military attack on Iran, the US used military bases in the UK for 40 days to support attack operations against Iran," adding that this violates Article 2, Paragraph 4 of the United Nations Charter and is unacceptable.
Stating that any intervention by the UK and other parties on this issue would further complicate the situation, Bekayi said, "If the UK and other parties expressing concerns about the situation in the Strait of Hormuz are sincere, they should look at the root cause of the problem."
"THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ IS CLOSED"
Speaking about the negotiations between Iran and Oman regarding the management of maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ismail Bekayi said, "Several meetings were held on Friday and Saturday. These meetings were useful and constructive. The discussions were about how to manage maritime transport in the Strait of Hormuz."
Arguing that there has been no change in the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, Bekayi stated, "Due to the aggressive actions of the US and the insecurity it has imposed on the region, the Strait of Hormuz is closed." The spokesman noted that the Iran-Oman talks have no connection to the US, are a bilateral matter between the two countries, and the discussions are ongoing.
DID IRAN REQUEST NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE US?
Denying claims that Iran has requested direct negotiations with the US, Bekayi said, "The claim that Iran has requested negotiations is a news fabrication attempt occasionally made by the other side."
Stating that they view diplomacy as a tool to protect national interests, the Iranian spokesman said, "We have stated that we have never shied away from using the tool of diplomacy to protect our national interests. However, we will not take any step that would lead the other side to draw a wrong conclusion."
Noting that Iran's current priority is defense, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said, "While the other side is conducting hostile and aggressive actions against Iran, our focus is on defense." The spokesman indicated that mediators might convey some messages from the US to Iran but stated that they are not currently engaged in any negotiations with the US.
"THE US VIOLATED THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING"
Ismail Bekayi also responded to a question about whether the memorandum of understanding between Iran and the US could serve as a basis for potential future talks. The Iranian spokesman said, "The situation is clear. We had a memorandum of understanding that clearly outlined the obligations of the parties. The US violated it 22-23 days after its signing."
Stating that the violation was not limited to a specific section, the spokesman said, "The entire mechanism outlined in the memorandum of understanding was violated." Noting that no agreement can be implemented unilaterally, Bekayi said Iran consequently stopped fulfilling its own obligations.
Stating that the future course of action will be evaluated when the time comes, Ismail Bekayi said, "But one thing is clear; we will not back down from the principles and foundations we define as our national interests and security."
"EVERY STEP BY THE US WILL BE MET WITH IRAN'S DETERMINATION"
Responding to a question about reports that US President Donald Trump postponed plans to intensify military operations against Iran and that attacks on Iran's southern ports and cities have decreased in recent days, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bekayi said, "The behavior of the US over the past year or two has resembled that of a mafia-like structure. It has displayed an approach that adheres to no rules or laws, questioning and violating all norms of international law in both rhetoric and actions."
The spokesperson stated that if the US maintains this stance, they cannot expect a reasonable process to emerge, adding, "The current situation cannot be called a ceasefire."
Arguing that the calmer atmosphere in recent days is due to the measures of the Iranian Armed Forces, Bekayi noted that developments are closely monitored, saying, "Every step taken by the US will be met with an immediate and decisive response from the Islamic Republic of Iran, as has been the case in the last two or three weeks."
"THE US IS THE ONLY RESPONSIBLE PARTY"
The spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, commenting on recent developments and Iran's stance, stated, "We should never blame ourselves for the enemy's malice and treachery. We are certainly not responsible for the emergence of the current situation. Regardless of the analysis, the only responsible party for the current situation is the US."
"WE ARE NOT NEGOTIATING WITH THE US"
Spokesperson Bekayi, regarding reports of a 10-day ceasefire agreement between Iran and the US, said that such media claims should not be taken too seriously. The spokesperson stated, "We are currently not engaged in any negotiations with the US." Noting that ongoing talks are occasionally interpreted differently, the spokesperson indicated that these are solely Iran-Oman discussions aimed at establishing arrangements concerning the Strait of Hormuz.
UKRAINE'S ATTACK
Commenting on Ukraine's attack on an Iranian vessel, Bekayi described this act by the Kyiv administration as "completely illegal, unjustified, contrary to the United Nations Charter, and a dangerous adventure." The spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "All parties who see themselves as supporters of the Ukrainian regime must be held accountable for this. The behavior of the Ukrainian President resembles anarchists engaging in dangerous and ostentatious ventures whose consequences affect all of Europe."
The spokesperson added, "You cannot assume that a flashy act aimed at demonstrating weight in international equations will remain at that level. Its consequences would be unpredictable and affect the entire region you draw into it. The Ukrainian regime has turned its country into a tool of geopolitical rivalry among great powers for four years. Zelenskyy's superiors must both control him and be cautious about this. Because the actions of the Ukrainian administration could have repercussions for different parts of the world." Ismail Bekayi stated that Iran is aware that Caspian Sea littoral states are seriously concerned about this situation, emphasizing that the Ukrainian administration must be held accountable for this act.
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