Noting there is no military solution to issues involving Iran, the country's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stressed on Thursday that Tehran will never surrender to pressure or threats.
At a BRICS 2026 foreign ministers' meeting in India, Araghchi said Iran is prepared to fight with full force to defend its freedom, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, while also remaining fully committed to diplomacy.
The Iranian foreign minister emphasized that regional instability is a lose-lose situation for all parties involved.
Tensions in the Middle East have escalated since the United States and Israel launched joint military strikes against Iran on Feb. 28, triggering retaliation from Tehran against Israel as well as U.S. bases and assets in the Middle East, along with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
A ceasefire took effect on April 8 after 40 days of fighting through Pakistani mediation, but talks in Islamabad failed to produce a lasting agreement. The truce was later extended by U.S. President Donald Trump without a set deadline.
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with Araghchi on the sidelines of the BRICS meeting.
Lavrov reiterated Russia's readiness to provide good offices to Iran and the United States in the search for and implementation of mutually acceptable solutions.
He emphasized the need to maintain the current ceasefire and prevent the disruption of political and diplomatic efforts so as to work out a comprehensive agreement between Iran and the United States.
Also on Thursday, Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi said that the ceasefire agreement between Iran and the United States still holds, and Pakistan, as a mediator, is maintaining contact with relevant negotiating parties.
U.S. Central Command Commander Brad Cooper on Thursday testified before the U.S. Congress, saying that the United States is closely monitoring the situation in Iran and is prepared for a possible escalation.
On the same day, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that Israel is prepared for the possibility that it may soon need to resume its offensive to achieve the goals of its military campaign against Iran as its mission is not over.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance said on Wednesday that negotiations between the United States and Iran are making progress, but are very sensitive, so he could not disclose details.
Vance emphasized that the fundamental question is whether they are making enough progress to meet the U.S. president's red line, which is to ensure that Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon.
No military solution to issues involving Iran: Iranian FM
