Iran has warned that it will respond in kind to any violation of commitments by the United States, days after US President Donald Trump declared that the ceasefire with Tehran is "over".
Issuing the warning, Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson said, "Any US breach of commitments will be met with 'reciprocal action," according to state television.
The foreign ministry also rejected Trump's assertion that Tehran had sought the continuation of negotiations with Washington. "We did not request negotiations with the US, but we accepted the Qatari mediators' trip to Iran," it said.
As tensions persisted following renewed exchanges of attacks between the longtime adversaries, Iran's top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, maintained that the conflict with the United States would not conclude with Tehran yielding.
"Ending the war is a priority for the countries of the world, but everyone must know that this confrontation will never end with Iran's surrender. Whenever the Americans betray the understanding (agreement), we are fully prepared to defend ourselves; we will stand firmly against them and secure the rights of the Iranian people," he said.
Ghalibaf further said that he had conveyed to US Vice President JD Vance during negotiations that Iran had no confidence in the United States.
"From my point of view, those who can negotiate with America are those who are prepared for war," he added.
Ali Khomeini, the grandson of Islamic Republic founder Ruhollah Khomeini, also struck a similar note, arguing that the dialogue with Washington should not be viewed as an effort to achieve peace.
"If you see that the Islamic Republic talks about negotiations, it is not about peace negotiations. Can we make peace with criminal America? Our identity is 'non-compromise with arrogance'. Negotiation means war, and war has different forms. Anyone who wants to negotiate in order to reach peace with America is a traitor. Anyone who sends a message of friendship to America, their mouth is impure and unclean," he said.
Since the Iran-US deal was signed last month, both countries have traded fire across the Middle East, leaving the ceasefire in a precarious position. The hostilities subsided during the week-long funeral of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, but explosions were reported in Iran a day after the funeral, even as the United States denied any role in the incident.
