Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf declared that Tehran does not seek a ceasefire but intends to deliver a strong retaliatory response against aggressors. In a post cited by Tasnim News Agency, he stated that Iran must strike in a way that deters future aggression and accused Israel of perpetuating a cycle of war, negotiation, and ceasefire to preserve what he called its “shameful existence.”

The statement comes as tensions between Iran and Israel intensify following the February 28 killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, senior military officials, and civilians. In response, the United States and Israel launched extensive military operations targeting both military and civilian areas in Iran, causing rising casualties and severe damage to infrastructure such as power, gas, and communications.

Iran has retaliated with missile and drone strikes on Israeli-occupied territories and U.S. bases in the region, describing these actions as a fight for survival. Meanwhile, Washington and Tel Aviv have pledged to continue joint operations to counter what they call Iranian aggression.