Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Iran has had its nuclear program just for peaceful purposes

American officials insist on pretending that they are not aware of Iran's positions, which shows malicious intent. Iran has never had its nuclear program for anything other than peaceful purposes.

Scaring the international community about something imaginary and non-existent called Iran's nuclear weapons. They insist on us proving that it does not exist.

We ourselves know how to develop our economy. Those who claimed to return Iran to the Stone Age and threatened our infrastructure for a few days are in no position to accept such a claim.

At least 75 members of the British Parliament have signed a motion to sanction Israel over its genocide in Palestine and Lebanon.

Labour MP Richard Burgon has tabled the motion in the UK Parliament calling for broad sanctions against Israel over its actions in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon.

According to Burgon, the motion has already garnered 75 signatures from various MPs.

Among those who have supported it are SNP foreign affairs spokesman Brendan O'Hara, former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, and the only MP of Palestinian origin, Layla Moran.

The motion condemns the annexation of Palestinian territories in the West Bank and calls for concrete measures such as an arms embargo, a ban on trade with Israeli settlements, economic sanctions, and individual sanctions against Israeli officials. Burgon has called for the motion to gain even more support in the coming weeks.

This is not the first time Burgon has submitted a motion to sanction Israel for its genocidal actions in Gaza.

Since 2024, Burgon and several other MPs, including Corbyn and O’Hara, have put forward motions that called on the House of Commons to support the United Nations General Assembly’s resolutions demanding that the Israeli regime end its illegal presence in the occupied Palestinian territories.

“Israel has carried out war crimes and flagrant violations of international law in Gaza … To get Israel to stop committing these crimes, we need real action from political leaders, not just words,” Burgon said, after initiating a motion in 2024 to sanction Israel.

Since Israel launched its genocidal assault on Gaza on October 7, 2023, it has killed more than 72,000 Palestinians and wounded at least 172,000 others, most of them children and women.

Furthermore, the Israeli regime has completely destroyed Gaza’s civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, sports facilities, power plants, water reservoirs, and residential areas.

As a result, the people of Gaza have become refugees in the besieged territory, completely dependent on foreign aid, which rarely enters the territory due to Israeli blockades.

Press TV’s website 

A high-ranking Hezbollah official says Iran’s show of power following the recent US-Israeli war of aggression against the country has strengthened the resistance movement much more than ever, warning against any concessions to the occupying Israeli regime.

Nawaf al-Moussawi also emphasized on Saturday that any direct meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun under the recent ceasefire between Beirut and the Tel Aviv regime, which went into effect over the weekend, will strip the current Lebanese administration of legitimacy to represent the Arab nation.

Since last week’s negotiations between Iranian and US delegations in Islamabad on an end to the US-Israeli aggression on Iran, Tehran has kept pushing for a ceasefire in Lebanon as a major condition for any progress in the talks and the start of the second round of negotiations.

This ultimately forced the US and the Israeli regime to state that a ceasefire would begin Thursday night.

On Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced the reopening of the strait following the implementation of a ceasefire in Lebanon.

However, the Iranian military announced on Saturday morning that “control of the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous state” after the United States has continued “repeated breaches of commitments” and engaged in “piracy and maritime theft under the so-called blockade.”

Press TV’s website

The Islamic Republic of Iran has not yet approved the next round of indirect negotiations with the United States in light of President Donald Trump’s imposition of a naval blockade on Iranian ports and the American side’s excessive demands during recent talks in Islamabad, according to a report.

Tasnim news agency reported on Saturday that Iran has said the Americans’ abstention from excessive demands is a fundamental condition for the continuation of the talks.

Otherwise, it said, Iran is not seeking to squander time through drawn-out and fruitless negotiations.

Tasnim highlighted that the matter has been conveyed to US officials through Pakistani mediators.

On February 28, following the assassination of the late Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several high-ranking military commanders, the United States and Israel initiated a large-scale and unprovoked offensive against Iran.

In response, the Iranian Armed Forces executed a series of counterattacks over 40 days, targeting US and Israeli military assets, which resulted in significant damage.

A two-week ceasefire was brokered on April 8, allowing for negotiations in Islamabad, where Iran proposed a ten-point plan seeking US troops’ withdrawal and the lifting of sanctions.

Despite 21 hours of intensive talks, the Iranian delegation returned to Tehran without an agreement, citing a lack of trust in US commitments.

Amidst these tensions, Trump announced a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz aimed at intercepting vessels that had paid tolls to Iran. The US military confirmed that the blockade took effect at 1400 GMT on Monday, escalating the situation further.

Press TV’s website

In a series of messages released on Saturday, several high-ranking Iranian officials congratulated Iran’s Army commanders and personnel on Army Day.

Speaker of Iran’s Parliament Mohhamed Baqer Qalibaf thanked the army’s personnel for their sacrifices during the recent US-Israeli aggression, saying: “The army is the symbol of Iran’s power and security.”

“The army, its personnel and commanders have shown their full commitment to the protection of Iran and its people, whether during war or natural disasters.”

Iran’s Judiciary Chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje'i also congratulated army personnel and the people of Iran on the occasion of the Army Day.

“The army, from the very first days of the [Islamic] Revolution, has stood in front of this country’s enemies, from bloodthirsty Saddam Hussein to genocidal US and Israel, like a strong mountain.”

He also congratulated the families of the Army’s personnel and emphasized their complete allegiance to the Leader of the Islamic Republic Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi felicitated the day, stating, “During these difficult days, it was the commendable role of the armed forces which defended the country from the nefarious plans of the enemy.”

The peace, security, and prosperity of the country are the direct result of the sacrifices of Iran’s army, he added.

In a post on X, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Esmaeil Baqaei commemorated the memory of Dena Destroyer personnel who were martyred “by the oppressive US regime in international waters.”

He furthermore congratulated the commanders and personnel of Iran’s army, and commended their sacrifice for keeping Iran secure and safe in the face of the US-Israeli aggression.

On February 28, the US and Israel initiated a large-scale, illegal, and unprovoked war on Iran, assassinating the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several high-ranking military commanders.

They also killed hundreds of Iranian civilians in airstrikes on the country. 

Notable among the victims are the more than 160 school children of the southern city of Minab.

In response, Iranian armed forces conducted 100 waves of decisive missile and drone operations against US and Israeli military assets across the region for over 40 days.

A two-week ceasefire was brokered on April 8, followed by negotiations in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, where Iran proposed a 10-point plan to permanently end the war.

Despite 21 hours of intensive discussions, the negotiations ended without an agreement, with Iran citing “excessive demands” from the US side.

Press TV’s website

In a message on Sunday marking Army Day, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei hailed the country's army for courageously defending the nation in the recent imposed war, just as it did in previous imposed wars.

He said the army of the Islamic Republic of Iran has been "courageously defending the land, water, and the flag to which it belongs" in the face of the US-Israeli war of aggression.

"With its strong divine and popular support, and in dense and solid ranks, shoulder to shoulder with other warriors of the armed forces, it has confronted two armies at the forefront of disbelief and arrogance, making their weakness and humiliation evident in the eyes of the world," read the message issued on the occasion of Farvardin 29, which marks the formal establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army.

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution, who is also the chief commander of the armed forces, emphasized that just as Iranian army drones strike like lightning against American and Zionist criminals, its brave naval force stands ready to make enemies taste the bitterness of new defeats.

The message, issued on the day named in honor of the army by the late founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini, congratulated all army personnel, their families, and the Iranian nation.

Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei described the victory of the Islamic Revolution as a turning point in the army's history, marking the end of an era of weakness that had been imposed by enemies and internal traitors.

He noted that after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the army left the orbit of the tyrannical Pahlavi system and found its rightful place in the warm embrace of the Iranian people.

The Leader further stated that the 29th of Farvardin coincides with the birth anniversary of the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, who worked tirelessly from the first decade of the revolution to preserve the army against ominous calls for its dissolution and to enhance its capabilities across various domains.

He stressed that the army's progress must be pursued with doubled effort and that necessary measures for its advancement will be issued in the near future.

The Leader also paid tribute to generations of heroic commanders who led the Iranian army over the past five decades, many of whom attained martyrdom.

Among those he mentioned were revered commanders Qarani, Fallahi, Namjou, Fakouri, Babaei, Setari, Ardestani, Sayyad Shirazi, as well as recent martyrs Seyyed Abdolrahim Mousavi and Aziz Nasirzadeh, both of whom were martyred in the 40-day imposed war.

During the recent 40-day war of aggression imposed by the US-Israeli coalition, the Iranian army defended the country with all its might, carrying out numerous successful retaliatory operations against enemy installations across the region.

The synergy and seamless coordination between the army and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps enabled the Iranian armed forces to inflict heavy blows on the enemy.

Press TV’s website

Commander of Iran’s highest operational command unit says the country’s enemies and ill-wishers, particularly the United States and the Israeli regime, have no option but to yield to the greatness and strength of the Iranian Armed Forces and resilient nation.

Major General Ali Abdollahi, commander of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, issued a message on Friday on the occasion of the National Army Day.

“The Armed Forces, people, and officials of a strong Iran are ready in a united manner and in complete coherence in obedience to Leader of the Islamic Revolution and Commander-in-Chief [Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei] to make the enemies regret their actions,” he said.

After the victory of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, especially in the fight against the American and Israeli aggressors, the brave fighters in Iran’s powerful and steadfast Army have proved on the battlefield that they are ready to defend national sovereignty and interests as well as the prudent and heroic nation, he added.

The top military commanders emphasized that in the path to defend national sovereignty, the Iranian Armed Forces are in full unity with the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), the law enforcement and border guards, the Ministry of Defense and the Basij (voluntary) forces.

Abdollahi reiterated that the Iranian Armed Forces, officials and nation are united and coherent to continue their fight against the enemies until a complete victory is achieved.

Iran fully prepared to combat any threat, aggression with ‘iron will’: Army chief

Iran fully prepared to combat any threat, aggression with ‘iron will’: Army chief

The commander-in-chief of the Iranian Army says the country is fully prepared to confront any threats and aggression.

Earlier on Friday, Commander-in-Chief of the Iranian Army Major General Amir Hatami said the country is fully prepared with “iron will” to confront any threats and aggression against the Islamic Republic.

In a message, he added that the Army stands ready to confront any threat or act of aggression by enemies “with firm determination, watchful eyes, an iron will, and fingers on the trigger” and will remain committed to its pledge until the last breath.

Commander of the Iranian Army’s Ground Force Brigadier General Ali Jahanshahi also said on Friday that his unit enjoys operational capabilities and modern equipment with motivated and specialized forces who are fully prepared to confront any enemy’s ground movements.

Press TV’s website

Three Iranian oil tankers carrying a combined five million barrels of crude oil have become the first loaded vessels to leave the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz since the US-imposed "naval blockade" came into effect earlier this week.

The tankers -- Deep Sea, Sonia I, and Diona -- all under US sanctions, successfully passed through the strategic strait on Friday after departing from Iran’s Kharg Island, according to tracking firm Kpler.

The maritime data company confirmed the crossings using satellite imagery and ship tracking data. The vessels were loaded on April 2, 8, and 9, respectively.

The development comes after the United States announced it had imposed a so-called blockade on Iranian ports and disrupted the country’s maritime trade.

Washington claimed the blockade, which began on Monday, was intended to prevent Tehran from exporting its oil.

Iran has strongly rejected the US measure, warning that it violates the fragile ceasefire and could trigger a proportional response from Iranian armed forces.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei dismissed the feasibility of the US effort, describing it as a provocative act that violates international law and lacks any legal legitimacy.

He stressed that Iran, as a coastal state with the support of regional countries, is fully capable of ensuring the security of the Strait of Hormuz, provided that American aggression and interference in the region end.

For decades, Iran has served as the primary guardian of security in the Strait of Hormuz.

Press TV’s website

Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says it stands ready alongside the Army to deliver a “regret-inducing” response to the US and Israeli regime if they renew their criminal act of aggression against the country.

The IRGC made the announcement in a statement released on Friday to mark National Army Day.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran Army and the IRGC [using] weapons of unity, integrity, coordination, synergy, empathy, and sacred will … stand ready amid a lull in the battlefield during the third imposed war, with their hand on the trigger to deliver a powerful, destructive and regret-inducing response to any aggressive and criminal act by the American-Zionist enemy and their companions against Iran and its history-making nation,” it said.

Iran has witnessed three imposed wars over the past years, including the 1980s’ Iraq war, and two US-Israeli illegal acts of aggression, namely the 12-day one in June 2025 and this year’s 40-day one.

Also in its statement, the IRGC said that the Army - relying on its revolutionary spirit, experience during the eight-year Iraqi-imposed war, and indigenous knowledge and technology - has solidified its place in the country's defense architecture over the past 47 years and turned into a strong fortress of the nation.

It further hailed the Army’s brilliant and honorable role in defending Iran's independence, security, and territorial integrity.

The combat readiness of the Army and the IRGC ground forces foiled the enemy’s plot to launch a ground and naval incursion into Iran and shattered its dream of occupying Iranian islands in the Persian Gulf, noted the IRGC.

It also warned that any foolish act on the part of the enemy will bring about nothing but humiliation and a strategic defeat.

Meanwhile, it stressed that the efficiency of the Army and other armed forces in defending the country against the terrorist US-Israeli aggression was the outcome of guidelines issued by Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei and military commanders.

The recent US-Israeli aggression on Iran began on February 28 with airstrikes that assassinated senior Iranian officials and commanders.

The Iranian armed forces unleashed 100 waves of successful retaliatory strikes against sensitive and strategic American and Israeli targets throughout the region.

Forty days into the war, a Pakistan-brokered two-week ceasefire went into effect but Washington-Tehran negotiations failed to reach a deal.

Press TV’s website

Hezbollah says its fighters still have their "hand on the trigger" and are monitoring any enemy sabotage after the announcement of a 10-day ceasefire, as the Lebanese group reviewed 45 days of resistance against Israeli forces.

In a statement carried by Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV, the group said Friday that Israel's "killing machine" – despite resorting to brutality and intelligence capabilities – failed to prevent resistance fighters from carrying out their duties.

Hezbollah said its fighters struck Israeli targets in occupied Palestine during the period, with an average of 49 operations per day. Using drones and missiles, the group hit Israeli settlements and areas deep inside occupied Palestine, including beyond Tel Aviv, it added.

Hezbollah said it stood fast against the Zionist regime's aggression, sketching "scenes of sacrifice and heroism" in defense of the country and its people.  

US President Donald Trump announced the 10-day ceasefire during a White House address. A Lebanese parliamentarian and member of the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc emphasized that the implemented ceasefire was achieved as a result of "clear Iranian pressure."

Speaking to al-Manar network, MP Hussein al-Hajj Hassan noted that continuous communications between Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran played a role in reaching this agreement in Lebanon.

Hassan Fadlallah, a fellow member of the Lebanese parliament, corroborated this, stating that Iran’s ambassador in Beirut had informed Lebanese officials that a ceasefire would begin Thursday night, describing the agreement as the result of Iranian diplomatic efforts.

Fadlallah added that Iranian authorities will monitor US compliance with its commitments under the agreement, noting that the resumption of Iran-US negotiations is contingent upon the implementation of these commitments.

He stressed that Hezbollah’s adherence to the ceasefire depends on a complete halt to all hostile actions.