Iran says no room for ceasefire talks while military attacks continue

Iran stated on Monday that there is no possibility for ceasefire discussions while military operations by the United States and Israel continue. Esmaeil Baghaei, the spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, emphasized that Iran did not initiate the conflict and was engaged in talks when the fighting started. “We are now on the eleventh day of military aggression from the United States and the Israeli regime. We did not begin this war,” he declared during a press conference. “Ongoing military attacks leave little room for discussions other than about defense and a strong response to the enemy,” he added, stating that Iran’s main focus is on protecting the nation. Baghaei also denied allegations on Monday that Iranian forces had launched drones or missiles towards Azerbaijan, Turkey, or Cyprus as regional tensions escalate. He stated that Iran's defensive actions “should not be seen as aggression towards any neighboring nations,” and clarified that the armed forces’ leadership had “clearly and officially confirmed that such launches did not occur from within Iran or by our military." His comments came after Azerbaijan accused Iran of sending four drones into its Nakhchivan exclave, which hit an airport terminal and exploded near a school, causing injuries to civilians. President Ilham Aliyev described the event as an “act of terror,” demanded an explanation and apology from Iran, and instructed the withdrawal of Azerbaijani diplomats from Iran.