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FM spox: Iran tracks ‘with full vigilance’ moves after truce extension
Iranian Foreign Ministry’s spokesman reacted to the US president’s unilateral extension of the ceasefire between Iran and the United States, saying that Tehran will closely monitor developments while taking necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and security.
Esmaeil Baqaei said on Wednesday that Iran has not been the initiator of the imposed war and all of Iran’s actions were carried out in line with its inherent right of legitimate self-defense against the US-Israeli military aggression.
Iran, while closely monitoring field and political developments, will adopt the necessary and appropriate measures to protect its national interests and security, he added.
He further noted that the Armed Forces, with full vigilance, are ready to defend Iran’s national integrity comprehensively and decisively against any threat or act of mischief.
His remarks came after the US President Donald Trump extended a two-week ceasefire with Iran while announcing the continuation of an illegal blockade on Iran’s ports and vessels, despite Tehran’s insistence that the blockade must be lifted for bilateral talks to continue.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the extension came “upon the request of (Pakistan’s Army Chief) Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan.”
It was extended a day before its expiration as a new round of peace talks was on hold.
Pakistan had planned to host a second round of talks, but the White House suspended Vice President JD Vance’s planned trip to Islamabad as Iran decided not to attend the talks due to the US blockade on Iran’s ports.
China welcomes ceasefire extension
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun also reacted to the extension of the ceasefire, saying that the current situation in the Middle East is at “a critical stage.”
He said China “is ready” to work with the international community to maintain peace, following four principles President Xi Jinping proposed a few days earlier, including peaceful coexistence and adherence to international law.
“It’s imperative to prevent the recurrence of the conflict with utmost efforts,” he said.
Second round of negotiations
Regarding the possibility of another round of negotiations, Baqaei said diplomacy is a tool for securing national interests and security.
“Whenever we conclude that the necessary and logical grounds are prepared for using this tool to realize national interests and consolidate the achievements of the Iranian nation in frustrating the enemies’ evil goals, we will take action,” Baqaei added.
The US and Israel launched a war of aggression against Iran on February 28, assassinating Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several top military commanders.
Iran’s Armed Forces responded with 100 waves of retaliatory strikes under Operation True Promise 4, launching hundreds of ballistic and hypersonic missiles, as well as drones, against American military bases across West Asia and Israeli positions throughout the occupied territories.
On April 8, a two-week ceasefire was brokered by Pakistan between the two sides, though tensions remain high over US threats of a naval blockade and Iran’s firm control over the Strait of Hormuz.