BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 22. Iran will use
diplomacy to realize its national interests when the necessary
conditions arise, Esmail Baghaei, Iran’s Foreign Ministry
spokesperson told local media, Trend reports.
According to him, diplomacy is one of the means to ensure
national interests and security.
Baghaei welcomed Pakistan's positive and mediating efforts to
end the war and restore peace in the region, in response to the
proposal by Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister
Ishaq Dar to extend the ceasefire. He said that Iran was not the
one who started this war and that all Iranian steps were
self-defense in response to the U.S. and Israeli military attacks
on Iran.
The spokesperson added that Iran will use all means to hold
those who attacked the country accountable and demand
compensation.
Meanwhile, as no tangible progress was made in the nuclear
negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, the situation escalated on
February 28, when the United States and Israel launched military
airstrikes against Iran. In retaliation, Iran initiated missile and
drone strikes targeting Israeli and U.S. installations in the
region. Following these developments, a two-week ceasefire
agreement was brokered on April 7 through Pakistan's mediation.
However, during subsequent talks between the U.S. and Iran in
Islamabad on April 11, no consensus was reached.
On April 21, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he extended
the ceasefire until Iran submits its proposal and discussions are
concluded, one way or the other.
