"No Temporary Truce": Iran Demands Permanent End to Conflicts Across Middle East

Speaking on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum this Friday, April 17, 2026, Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh stated that Iran would not accept any short-term arrangements.

He emphasized that any credible ceasefire must encompass all conflict zones, stretching from Lebanon to the Red Sea, calling it a "red line" for Tehran. Khatibzadeh urged that the cycle of violence must be halted once and for all. Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, he maintained that while it lies within Iranian territorial waters, it has historically remained open for international shipping. Furthermore, he blamed the United States and Israel for regional instability and its subsequent negative impact on global trade and the broader economy.