“Iran, from the beginning, did not want this war, and it was forced upon us,” Ilahi said, adding that Tehran remains committed to diplomacy but is closely reviewing developments on the ground. “If they choose to continue this war, then obviously Iran is ready for that.”
His comments come at a time when US President Donald Trump has warned Tehran of military action if the ceasefire terms are not honoured, stating that American military assets will remain in place until compliance. The situation has been further complicated by delays in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil artery, amid fears of fresh attacks following intensified strikes on Lebanon.
According to shipping data from Kepler, only five vessels passed through the Strait on the first day of the ceasefire, tightening supply concerns and pushing crude oil prices higher after an initial decline. Global markets have also remained under pressure as uncertainty around the truce persists.
Lebanon has emerged as a major flashpoint in the conflict. While the US and Israel maintain that it was not included in the ceasefire framework, Iran insists otherwise. Ilahi said Tehran’s ceasefire proposal explicitly covered Lebanon and accused the other side of violating agreed terms.
“We announced it clearly that Lebanon is part of this ceasefire, but they did not observe it,” he said, pointing to casualties from recent strikes. “This means that they are not observing even their signature and their acceptance.”
Israel has carried out heavy strikes on Lebanon over the past 24 hours, reportedly killing more than 200 people and injuring hundreds more, drawing widespread international concern. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned the attacks, warning that they pose a serious risk to the already fragile ceasefire. China has also called for de-escalation and stressed the need to respect Lebanon’s sovereignty.
Ilahi indicated that Iran’s participation in upcoming talks in Islamabad remains conditional on how the situation evolves. While a delegation is expected to travel to Pakistan, he said no final decision has been taken.
“According to the information I have received, Iran is ready to send its delegation to Pakistan for negotiations. However, circumstances may change; I cannot say for certain,” he said.
He also reiterated Iran’s long-standing position on nuclear policy, rejecting US demands for the transfer of enriched uranium and insisting that Tehran’s nuclear programme is strictly for peaceful purposes. “We are not going to develop nuclear weapons… If we pursue nuclear power, it is only for peaceful purposes such as healthcare and electricity,” Ilahi said.
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On the Strait of Hormuz, Ilahi dismissed reports of potential transit fees as speculation and said Iran intends to keep the route open. “We do not want to close the Strait. We want it to remain open so that all can benefit,” he said, adding that no official decision has been made regarding any charges.
As diplomatic efforts gather pace, all eyes are on Islamabad, where Iranian and US delegations are expected in the coming days. However, with both sides holding firm positions and violence continuing on the ground, the path to a durable ceasefire remains uncertain, raising the risk of further escalation in a region critical to global energy markets.
