Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian affirmed Tehran's readiness to defend against foreign threats while emphasizing that the country remains committed to diplomatic engagement following military escalations with Israel. 

Pezeshkian said in a statement on Monday that Iran's priority is "national security and the peace of our people." 

He stressed that, "We will defend the rights of the nation with authority and will not retreat in the face of any threat." 

Pezeshkian added that "diplomacy and defense are the two wings of national power," affirming that Tehran has "neither abandoned the field nor the negotiating table" despite recent military escalations.

Iran-Israel Exchange of Military Strikes Tests Regional Truce 

The fragile regional truce brokered on April 8 faced a severe test following a direct exchange of military strikes between Iran and Israel. 

Following heavy Israeli airstrikes targeting the Dahiyeh suburb in Lebanon's capital, Beirut, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched waves of ballistic missiles into northern Israel. 

The IRGC cited the strikes as retaliation for widespread Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon. In response to the Iranian attacks, Israel conducted retaliatory airstrikes inside Iran, targeting southern locations including the Shiraz airport.

U.S. President Donald Trump urged both sides to immediately halt the attacks, adding that "The Blockade will remain in place, and in full force and effect, until a 'Final Deal' is reached." 

Meanwhile, Iran has announced a conditional suspension of military operations against Israel. 

U.S.-Led Ceasefire Push Continues Amid Blockade

Ongoing diplomatic efforts center on the U.S.-led framework pushing for an immediate regional ceasefire and a final peace deal. 

Washington is maintaining strict naval blockades on Iranian ports as leverage to keep Tehran engaged at the negotiating table, while Iran has conditioned its stand-down on a halt to Israeli operations in Lebanon.