Tehran: Amid escalating hostilities in the Middle East, Iran has categorically denied reports of a ceasefire agreement with Israel, declaring that there will be no negotiations unless Israel unilaterally halts its military offensive. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi firmly rejected US President Donald Trump’s assertion that a ceasefire deal had been reached, calling it “premature and misleading.”
Speaking to state media, Araghchi underlined that Israel had instigated the current cycle of violence and that Iran would not consider diplomatic overtures while under active assault. “The Israeli regime began this war. If they truly seek peace, they must stop their aggression. Only then can we consider a path to dialogue,” the minister said.
He emphasized that Iran was not seeking escalation but would defend its sovereignty decisively. “We have no intention of launching further attacks unless provoked. The resistance operations continued until 4:00 a.m. as a necessary response to the Israeli airstrikes,” Araghchi stated.
The minister added that while military options remained on the table, Iran was open to regional stability if its people and borders were respected. “The world must understand we are not aggressors, but we will not tolerate injustice or foreign threats to our homeland.”
Hours earlier, President Trump announced that a “mutual ceasefire understanding” had been reached between Iran and Israel, sparking hope for de-escalation. However, Iran’s rebuttal has cast doubt on the sincerity or accuracy of that claim. According to sources in Tehran, no diplomatic channels have confirmed such an agreement, and both military and political conditions remain hostile.
Analysts say Trump’s announcement may have been part of a pressure strategy aimed at publicly cornering Iran into peace talks, but Tehran appears unwilling to bow to unilateral declarations without tangible shifts on the ground.
Adding to the regional unrest, Iraq’s military confirmed a drone strike targeting the Taji military base, located north of Baghdad. The base, which had previously hosted US forces and was handed over to the Iraqi government in 2020, sustained damage but no casualties were reported. Iraqi defense officials are investigating the origins of the drone, amid speculation of a proxy retaliation linked to the Israel-Iran conflict.
This strike marks the latest in a series of attacks across the region, raising concerns about the widening scope of the conflict. The Ain al-Asad base in western Iraq still home to US troops was rumored to have been struck as well, but American officials denied any damage or incidents at that location.
While no group has formally claimed responsibility for the Taji strike, regional observers note that Iran-backed militia groups have previously used the base as a staging ground, and any escalation there could rapidly draw Iraq deeper into the crossfire.
In both Tehran and Tel Aviv, civilians are bracing for continued conflict. Hospitals across southern Iran remain on high alert after earlier Israeli airstrikes targeted military infrastructure. Meanwhile, Israeli citizens are reportedly facing heightened missile threats and extended deployment of Iron Dome defense systems in key cities.
The drone attack near Baghdad has further heightened security concerns across Iraq, a country already reeling from years of instability. The Iraqi government has called for calm, with Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani warning external actors not to turn Iraq into a “battleground for regional scores.”
Diplomatic sources indicate that backchannel talks through Qatar and Oman are ongoing, but neither side appears ready for compromise. Iran continues to demand a complete halt to Israeli air raids and military intrusions, while Israel insists on neutralizing what it calls Iran’s “nuclear and terrorist capabilities.”
For now, the region remains on edge. The lack of a verified ceasefire, coupled with retaliatory strikes and cross-border provocations, suggests that a broader conflict remains a looming threat unless serious international mediation efforts succeed quickly and decisively.
As the war drums beat louder, one truth remains evident: Without mutual restraint and genuine dialogue, the cycle of violence risks spiraling out of control, engulfing not just Iran and Israel, but an already fragile Middle East.