SAEDNEWS: Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed claims of a ceasefire with Israel, saying no formal agreement exists — but hinted at a pause in operations if Israeli attacks end by 4 a.m.
According to SAEDNEWS, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has firmly denied the existence of any ceasefire agreement with Israel, directly contradicting earlier claims made by U.S. President Donald Trump. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Araghchi clarified that Iran has not agreed to suspend its military operations, but signalled that Tehran is prepared to de-escalate — under specific conditions.
“There is currently no agreement on a ceasefire or operational pause,” Araghchi stated. “However, should the Israeli regime halt its unlawful aggression against the Iranian people by 4 a.m. today, we have no intention of continuing our response.”
This conditional de-escalation appears to reflect Tehran’s strategic calculus: projecting strength and moral high ground while leaving a narrow diplomatic opening to avoid further escalation. Araghchi was careful to reiterate that Iran did not initiate the conflict. “As we’ve said repeatedly,” he wrote, “Israel started this war — not us.”
The remarks follow a night of mounting international concern as the conflict entered its twelfth day. Earlier, President Trump claimed that a ceasefire had been reached between Iran and Israel, a statement that now appears premature at best and misleading at worst.
Iran’s position underscores both its distrust of U.S. mediation and its insistence on reciprocal restraint. While Araghchi hinted at a possible end to retaliatory actions, he made it clear that any such decision would depend on Israel’s behaviour — and would be taken only after internal deliberation. “A final decision on halting military operations,” he concluded, “will be made accordingly.”
The message from Tehran signals a willingness to avoid deeper conflict — but also serves as a sharp reminder that Iran, now emboldened by its calibrated missile strikes and international attention, is seeking to set the terms of engagement.
