A senior Iranian diplomat stated on March 9 that any ceasefire in the ongoing conflict with the U.S. and Israel must include guarantees against future aggression toward Iran, as global diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the crisis intensify. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi emphasized, "If a ceasefire is to be established, there must be guarantees that aggressive actions against Iran will not be repeated," during a televised address, noting Russia’s involvement in mediation efforts.
The remarks follow a March 8 phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump, where Putin proposed pathways to end hostilities. However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reiterated on March 9 that dialogue with the U.S. is "no longer on Tehran’s agenda," casting doubt on prospects for diplomacy under newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.
The conflict, now in its 11th day, began after U.S.-Israeli strikes on February 28 killed former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, prompting retaliatory Iranian missile and drone attacks on Israeli territory and U.S. regional assets. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf declared Tuesday that Tehran is "definitely not looking for a ceasefire," vowing to "punch the aggressor in the mouth."
While President Trump claimed the war would end "very soon," he acknowledged no immediate resolution, stating, "We’ve already won in many ways, but we haven’t won enough." Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed the military campaign remains "far from over," despite growing U.S. domestic opposition to prolonged engagement.
Analysts warn that sustained hostilities risk further destabilizing the Middle East and exacerbating global oil price volatility, with implications for markets and regional security.
