Iran rejects temporary ceasefire - Khatibzadeh: Conflicts must end for good, from Lebanon to the Red Sea!

(Patria) - Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh stated that Tehran rejects any temporary ceasefire and demands a comprehensive end to the war across the entire region.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Khatibzadeh said that any ceasefire must encompass all conflict hotspots "from Lebanon to the Red Sea," which he described as a red line for Iran.

"We do not accept any temporary ceasefire," he said, adding that the cycle of conflict "must end here and once and for all."

Khatibzadeh said that Pakistani mediation is aimed at achieving that goal.

Speaking about the Strait of Hormuz, he said that the waterway has historically remained open, noting that it lies within Iran's territorial waters but has long been open to navigation.

He accused the United States and Israel of causing instability in the region, saying their actions have negatively impacted global trade and the broader economy.

Khatibzadeh said that Iran remains committed to keeping the strait open, but hinted that given the current situation, new arrangements could be established, including measures related to security, safe passage, and environmental protection.

Seeking a permanent solution

He added that a permanent solution to the conflict, along with what he described as the abandonment of maximalist US positions, would ensure that the Strait of Hormuz remains a stable route for global trade.

The chief of the Pakistani army, General Asim Munir, has been in Tehran since Wednesday, where he met with Iranian officials, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Munir also spoke with senior Iranian military officials as part of mediation efforts aimed at ending the conflict.

Pakistan previously hosted talks after mediating a 14-day ceasefire between Washington and Tehran on April 8, following a US-Israeli military offensive against Iran that began on February 28.

World leaders and senior officials are participating in the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey from April 17 to 19, where global challenges and regional tensions are being discussed.