Iran says current conflict — “war of necessity,” not choice

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said the current military conflict is not a war of Iran’s choosing but a “war of necessity,” Al Jazeera reports, citing his press briefing.

Responding to a question about possible mediation efforts for a ceasefire, Baghaei said discussions on the issue are “not relevant at the moment.”

“Military confrontations are still ongoing,” he stated. “At this moment, it makes no sense to talk about anything other than defending our homeland.”

“We did not start this war,” Baghaei added. “This is not a war of our own choosing. It is a war of necessity that has been imposed on us.”