Iran’s Foreign Minister Says Ceasefire Request from US-Israel Will Be Rejected, Here’s Why
Tehran – Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in an interview with NBC on Sunday (8 March 2026), said that Iran would certainly reject if the United States (US) and Israel again request a ceasefire. Araghchi stressed that conditions this time are different from the 12-day war in June 2025.
Araghchi recalled June last year when Israel attacked Iran and US President Donald Trump posted the words ‘unconditional surrender’ on social media. What happened then, he said, was that Iran fought back and after the war lasted 12 days, what occurred was Israel requesting an ‘unconditional ceasefire’.
‘So we never surrendered, and we kept fighting for as long as necessary; we continue to defend ourselves. And we defend our territory, our people, and our dignity. And our dignity is not for sale,’ Araghchi said.
NBC presenter then asked Araghchi what condition Iran would place for bringing this war to an end. Araghchi replied that Iran was not at that point yet (ceasefire).
‘Clearly today is different from before. Last time we accepted a ceasefire, but now it is quite different. And the reasons are clear. Last time they attacked us, they committed aggression against us, killed our people, destroyed our infrastructure, and they asked for a ceasefire and we accepted in good faith because we were merely practising self-defence. And that did not bring peace,’ he said.
‘And this year they have attacked us again. And now they are asking for a ceasefire again? This will not work like this. So there must be a permanent stop to the war. If not, I think we will continue to fight,’ Araghchi emphasised.
NBC presenter again asked Araghchi, ‘Will Iran agree to a ceasefire to return to the negotiating table, to end the military conflict?’
Araghchi answered, ‘They must explain why they started this aggression before we reach the point of weighing a ceasefire. Obviously no one wants to continue the war. This is not our war, not a war we chose but a war imposed on us by the US and Israel. They started this war unprovoked, illegal, and what we did was legitimate self-defence and we have the right to do that.’