Iran on Monday dismissed the possibility of ceasefire negotiations as military strikes by the United States and Israel continue across the region.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei told reporters that Iran did not initiate the conflict and had been engaged in negotiations when it was attacked. “Military aggression is ongoing,” Baghaei said. “There is little place to talk about anything other than defense and a crushing response to the enemy.”
Iranian security forces, including members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Basij Resistance Force, have been deployed to mosques and other public facilities in Tehran and several other cities. The move follows explosions reported in Tehran and across Isfahan, including Dowlatabad, Mahmoudabad, Malek Shahr, Shahin Shahr, Sepahan Shahr, and Zarrin Shahr.
In an interview with CBS News, U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the U.S. is prepared to escalate military action until Iran “will have no choice but to surrender,” citing potential use of conventional munitions, including 500-, 1,000-, and 2,000-pound bombs on military targets.
The regional conflict has also disrupted Gulf energy operations. In Bahrain, state-owned Bapco Energies declared force majeure after an Iranian drone struck its Sitra refinery complex. Similar operational halts have been reported by Kuwait Petroleum Corporation and QatarEnergy, highlighting the broader impact of the hostilities on global energy supply.