Iran Seeks Permanent End To Middle East Conflicts, Rejects Ceasefire

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said his country is seeking a comprehensive end to wars across the Middle East region, not a temporary ceasefire.

Khatibzadeh made this known on Friday in Antalya, Türkiye, while speaking to newsmen on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF2026) held under the auspices of Turkish President Recep Erdogan.

According to Khatibzadeh, any ceasefire must include all conflict zones “from Lebanon to the Red Sea,” describing it as a “red line” for Iran.

“We are not accepting any temporary ceasefire,” he said, adding that the cycle of conflict “should end here once and for all.”

Khatibzadeh explained that the recent mediation by Pakistan aimed to achieve that goal.

On the controversy surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, he said the waterway had historically remained open and accessible, noting that it lies within Iran’s territorial waters.

He accused the U.S. and Israel of triggering instability in the region, saying their actions had negatively affected global trade and the wider economy.

Khatibzadeh said that Iran remained committed to keeping the Strait open, but indicated that new arrangements could be introduced in light of the current situation.

This, he said, included considerations related to security, safe passage and environmental concerns.

He said a lasting resolution to the conflict, along with “a shift away from “maximalist positions by the U.S.,” would ensure that the Strait of Hormuz remains a stable route for global commerce.

The forum is with theme:”Mapping Tomorrow, Managing Uncertainties,” focuses on “Navigating Uncertainty in a Changing World.”

The three-day forum opened on Friday amid several globally sensitive issues, such as the U.S.-Israel-Iran war, and its attendant energy security and maritime routes crisis, the Russian-Ukrainian war, among others.

The event, attended by world leaders and senior officials, also features panels, discussions and sessions covering a wide range of topics shaped by contemporary political, economic, environmental, and technological dynamics.

Participants include 20 heads of state and government, 40 foreign ministers, 60 invited foreign media, over 5,000 decision-makers, academics, experts and diplomats, among others from about 150 countries.