Ankara: Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh stated that war is not a solution to the ongoing crisis, emphasizing that diplomacy remains the only viable path forward amid stalled talks with the US. Addressing a virtual conference titled 'The US-Israeli Aggression Against Iran: Scenarios Ahead,' he highlighted that military approaches only deepen instability and prolong conflicts.
According to Anadolu Agency, Khatibzadeh reiterated that war is part of the problem and stressed that all alternatives to diplomacy are unattractive. He noted that Iran has been putting forward proposals for weeks, aiming to end the conflict through negotiations based on equal terms and conditions. The US-Israeli war with Iran was paused on April 8, when Pakistan mediated a ceasefire between the parties and hosted high-level talks on April 11-12 between Washington and Tehran, marking the most significant dialogue since they severed diplomatic ties in 1979. Pakistan continues to mediate for fresh talks to permanently end the war.
Khatibzadeh urged other parties to seize the opportunity for diplomacy, describing Iran as a responsible player rooted in its long-standing civilization. He stated that the country would maintain its defensive posture while prioritizing diplomacy. The Wednesday event brought together international relations experts and former diplomats to discuss potential future scenarios of the conflict, which began on February 28 when the US and Israel initiated war on Iran.
The Deputy Foreign Minister also criticized what he termed as 'miscalculations' by Washington, particularly the notion that continued pressure, including restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz, could change Iran's approach. He maintained that Iran remains in a defensive posture aimed at preventing any aggressor from achieving its objectives and will not shift its position under economic or military pressure.
Referring to recent developments, Khatibzadeh mentioned that Iran had prepared to reopen the Strait of Hormuz under the April 8 ceasefire but said that continued pressure undermined those efforts. Iran declared the key waterway open following the ceasefire but closed it again after a US blockade of Iranian ports. He emphasized that a meaningful shift in the situation depends on ending the war through mutual respect and balanced conditions at the negotiating table.