• Iran's deputy foreign minister accuses the U.S. of "disguised coercion," saying ongoing threats of a "massive assault" contradict Washington's claims of pausing attacks for negotiations.
  • Tehran vows it is fully prepared to retaliate against any military aggression, framing resistance as a choice between "victory and martyrdom."
  • Diplomatic back-channels remain active, with third-party mediation reportedly including Pakistan, even as public rhetoric escalates, heightening risks for regional energy markets and global geopolitical stability.

Iran’s deputy foreign minister warned Thursday that Washington’s simultaneous pursuit of talks and military threats amounts to a policy of coercion. In a statement carried by state media, he asserted that the U.S. claim of pausing strikes for negotiations is contradicted by the “continuation of threats and massive assault” against Iranian facilities and allied targets. “This is not diplomacy; it is disguised pressure meant to force concessions,” he said, adding that Tehran is fully prepared to respond to any military aggression.

The remarks underscore the fragile state of U.S.-Iran relations, which remain stuck in a cycle of escalation and tentative diplomacy. According to people familiar with the matter, Iranian officials have continued talks with U.S. intermediaries through third parties, even as they publicly reject any notion of surrender. The dual-track approach appears designed to maintain a diplomatic off-ramp while signaling resolve to domestic and regional audiences.

Iranian state media has characterized any potential U.S. strike as an act of war, invoking the nation’s right to self-defense. Military spokespeople have described previous or threatened actions as unlawful, while vowing that retaliation would target specific interests. “We do not seek war, but we will not hesitate to defend our sovereignty,” one official said.

The backdrop is a string of recent incidents, including missile and drone exchanges involving Iran, Israel, and U.S. assets in the region. The ongoing tension has already pushed oil prices higher as traders price in an increased risk premium for shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. A blockade or major strike could disrupt roughly 20% of global oil flows, analysts warn.

Experts describe the current standoff as a high-stakes game of brinkmanship, where both sides use public threats and back-channel talks in parallel. “This pattern has precedents in past nuclear negotiations,” said a senior analyst. “The risk is not an immediate full-scale war, but miscalculation or an incident that spirals out of control.”

Efforts to reach the White House for comment were not immediately returned. The U.S. has maintained that its military posture is defensive and that it prefers a negotiated solution.

Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the date of the deputy foreign minister’s statement. It was made on Thursday, not Wednesday.