Iran rejects temporary truce, to pursue war until permanent end to hostilities

Iran has rejected a temporary ceasefire proposed by friendly countries in the US-Israeli war, saying it would allow adversaries to pause and prepare for the continuation of the conflict.

“We are calling for an end to the war and for preventing its recurrence,” foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei was cited as saying by Iran’s state news agency IRNA.

Reuters reported Monday that Iran and the US have received a proposal to end hostilities that could come into effect on Monday. Axios also reported that the US, Iran, and regional mediators were discussing a potential 45-day ceasefire as part of a two-phase deal that would lead to a permanent end to the war.

Baghaei did not specifically address the reports.

He added that Iran has formulated a response to the United States’ demands to end the war and will announce it “when necessary,” referring to the 15-point list of demands that Washington conveyed to Tehran through Pakistan.

The proposal was “extremely excessive and unusual and illogical,” adding that Iran has a “very bitter experience of negotiating with the US,” he said.

Any diplomatic talks are “absolutely incompatible with ultimatums, crimes, and threats to commit war crimes,” he added, referring to US President Donald Trump’s threat to bomb key Iranian infrastructure if Tehran does not open the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran's demands "should not be interpreted as a sign of compromise, but rather as a reflection of its confidence in defending its positions," Baghaei said.

Separately, Iranian Armed Forces spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari said on Monday that if attacks on civilian targets are repeated, Iran’s retaliation will be on a much wider scale and losses “several times greater,” the semi-official news agency Tasnim reported.

The Iranian army spokesperson said Tehran will continue the war with the United States and Israel for as long as its political leaders deem necessary.

"We can continue the war as long as the political authorities see fit," Mohammad Akraminia told ISNA news agency, adding that "the enemy must definitely regret it because, after this war, we need to reach a point of security and not witness another war".