Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Monday (March 16) that Tehran has not asked for a ceasefire or exchanged messages with the U.S., adding that the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran must come to an end in a way that it will not be repeated again.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday (March 15) called for a coalition of nations to help reopen the vital shipping route and warned that the NATO alliance faces a "very bad" future if its members fail to come to Washington's aid.

"They (Americans) are asking other countries to come and help them so that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, which, of course, from our perspective it is open. It is only closed to our enemies, to those who carried out unjust aggression against our country and to their allies.”, Araqchi said in response to Trump's comments.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

TEHRAN, IRAN (MARCH 16, 2026) (WANA - No use Iran, BBC Persian. No use VOA Persian. No use Manoto. No use Iran International. No use Radio Farda)

1. IRAN FOREIGN MINISTER, ABBAS ARAQCHI, ENTERING PRESS CONFERENCE, WALKING TO PODIUM

2. PRESS SEATED, NEWS CONFERENCE SEEN THROUGH SCREEN, CAMERAMEN IN THE BACKGROUND

3. POSTER OF CHILDREN KILLED DURING U.S. AND ISRAEL STRIKES

4. TRADITIONAL HAFT-SIN TABLE OF NOWRUZ (IRANIAN NEW YEAR) WITH PICTURE OF IRAN’S LATE SUPREME LEADER, AYATOLLAH ALI KHAMENEI

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, ABBAS ARAQCHI, SAYING:

“They (Americans) are asking other countries to come and help them so that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, which, of course, from our perspective it is open. It is only closed to our enemies, to those who carried out unjust aggression against our country and to their allies.”

6. ARAQCHI AT PODIUM, PRESS SEATED

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, ABBAS ARAQCHI, SAYING:

“We have not sent any message (to the U.S.)"

8. CAMERAMEN

9. (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, ABBAS ARAQCHI, SAYING:

“We are not asking for a ceasefire, but this war must come to an end in a way that it will not be repeated again."

10. ONGOING NEWS CONFERENCE

11. ARAQCHI LEAVING PODIUM