Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has stated that only Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei holds the authority to make a final decision on whether Iran will continue its military confrontation with the United States or return to ceasefire talks. The statement came amid ongoing U.S. air raids on Iranian military and civilian sites for nine consecutive nights, with Iran responding by attacking American bases across the Middle East.

In an interview with Tehran Times, Araghchi confirmed that Iran’s Supreme National Security Council met on Saturday night to review the situation and decided to suspend the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, a peace deal signed on June 17 under Pakistan’s mediation. The conflict, which began on February 28 over Iran’s nuclear program, had previously paused with an April 7 ceasefire before reigniting after Iran’s July 5 drone attack on UAE tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.

The renewed hostilities have led to U.S. President Donald Trump reimposing port blockades on Iran, while Tehran has yet to formally declare war, awaiting Khamenei’s decision.