Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei stated on Wednesday that Iran will decide whether to move forward with the negotiation process with the United States in response to specific circumstances, asserting that diplomacy will be pursued to safeguard national interests should conditions be deemed appropriate.
Baghaei pointed out that diplomacy is a vital tool for ensuring national security and interests.
He emphasized that Iran will take action whenever it determines that the necessary and reasonable prerequisites exist to consolidate its national interests and sustain the achievements gained in resisting external aggression.
Meanwhile, the spokesman acknowledged Pakistan's mediation efforts while stressing that the current round of conflict was not initiated by Iran. He maintained that all of Iran's actions are based on its legitimate right to self-defense against military aggression from the U.S. and Israel.
Baghaei said that Iran will continue to closely monitor both battlefield and political developments, taking all necessary measures to safeguard national interests and security.
He added that the Iranian armed forces remain on high alert, ready to respond decisively to any threats.
Furthermore, he emphasized that Iran will utilize all available opportunities and means to hold those responsible for aggression accountable, protect its legitimate rights and interests, and push for accountability and reparations from those involved in war crimes.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he will extend the ceasefire with Iran at Pakistan's request, but did not specify an end date.
While the move is welcomed, it has yet to generate momentum for dialogue. Iran has made it clear that it will not engage in a new round of talks unless Trump lifts his blockade on ships entering and exiting Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz.
Resumption of talks with US depends on specific conditions: Iranian Foreign Ministry
Two Pakistani candidates have been selected to become the first foreign astronauts to train for China's future space station missions, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) has announced, with one of them likely to become the first Pakistani to enter orbit.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the agency confirmed that candidates Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud have successfully passed several rounds of selection procedures and will soon come to China to participate in the spaceflight training process as reserve astronauts.
The CMSA said that after completing various training programs and passing rigorous assessments, one of the Pakistani candidates will participate in a future spaceflight mission as a payload specialist, becoming the first foreign astronaut to enter the Chinese space station.
The China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO) and the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) signed a cooperation agreement on the spaceflight of Pakistani astronaut to the Chinese space station in February 2025.
Under the agreement, the Chinese government will select and train a group of Pakistani astronauts, and one of them will be the first foreign astronaut to enter the Chinese space station.
In the presence of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the agreement was signed by Lin Xiqiang, deputy director of the CMSEO and Muhammad Yousuf Khan, chairman of the SUPARCO at the Prime Minister's House.
The official selection of the astronauts from Pakistan marks a milestone in the history of China's space program and a landmark achievement in the international cooperation on the Chinese space station.
The CMSA also said it is a successful example of the China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperative partnership taking shape in the space sector, which also fully demonstrates the Chinese government's open attitude toward sharing the fruits of space development with the international community.
The peaceful use of outer space for the benefit of all humanity has always been China's core mission and the purpose behind the vigorous development of the country's space endeavors, the CMSA said.
China's manned space program will always keep its doors open, welcoming countries around the world to actively participate in cooperation in fields such as scientific experiments, technical tests, and astronaut selection and training in the China Space Station in order to expand human understanding of the universe and contribute wisdom and strength to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, the CMSA statement added.
Two Pakistani astronauts selected to train for China's space station missions
