Iran warns of retaliation if fragile ceasefire with Israel collapses

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has issued a firm warning that the Islamic Republic remains fully vigilant and prepared to defend itself if the Israeli regime violates the fragile ceasefire that ended last month’s 12-day military confrontation.
Speaking in an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Araghchi underscored the seriousness of the situation, emphasizing that the recent hostilities were not a “conflict” but rather an act of “unprovoked military aggression” by Israel against Iran.
“It is not a conflict. It is an act of aggression — unprovoked aggression by Israel against the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Araghchi stated during the interview, held on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) foreign ministers’ meeting in Tianjin, China.
The foreign minister reiterated Iran’s position that it had no choice but to exercise its legitimate right to self-defense, which ultimately forced Israel to halt its attacks and request an unconditional ceasefire.
“We defended our country in a very courageous way and forced the aggressors to stop the aggression and ask for an unconditional ceasefire, which was accepted by us,” Araghchi declared.
While the ceasefire brought a temporary end to hostilities, Araghchi warned that the truce remains fragile and unreliable, citing Israel’s track record of violating such agreements.
“The ceasefire is, of course, fragile — and the reason is obvious: no ceasefire by the Israeli regime is reliable because the regime has a very bad record on that,” he noted.
Araghchi made it clear that Iran does not seek a continuation of war, but affirmed that the nation’s armed forces remain on high alert and ready to respond if necessary.
“We are very careful and fully prepared if the ceasefire is broken, but this is not our wish. That was not our wish from the beginning. We did not want this war, but we were ready for that,” he said.
The remarks reflect Iran’s broader posture following the brief but intense conflict, which saw direct military exchanges between Tehran and Tel Aviv. The 12-day war marked one of the most serious escalations in recent regional history, prompting global concern and international diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire.
As regional tensions remain high, Iran's message is clear: while it prefers peace, it will not hesitate to act decisively in the face of renewed aggression. (ILKHA)
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