'War will end on Trump's terms': Hegseth signals tough US stance; Trump says conflict may end in 2–3 weeks
Iran is prepared for "at least six months" of war, the country's foreign minister said in an interview on Tuesday, as Donald Trump insisted the conflict could end within two to three weeks.
"We do not set any deadlines for defending ourselves. We will defend our country and our people as far as necessary and by any means required," Abbas Araghchi told Al Jazeera.
"It does not matter what timelines our enemies set for themselves. However, our recommendation is that they bring this war to a complete and permanent end before facing further damage," he added, stressing that any resolution must ensure peace across the region.
Araghchi said Tehran is not engaged in direct negotiations with Washington, contradicting Trump's claims of "serious discussions" with a "new, more reasonable regime" in Iran.
"Negotiation is when two countries engage in talks to reach an agreement, and such a thing does not exist between the United States and us," he said.
However, Araghchi confirmed receiving messages from Steve Witkoff,noting that the US and Iran have been communicating indirectly through intermediaries.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Fox News that "messages are being exchanged" and that there is potential for a direct meeting in the future.
Araghchi also said Iran has not responded to a reported 15-point US proposal, disputing Trump's claim that Tehran had agreed to "most" of the demands. An Iranian spokesperson earlier criticised the proposal as "largely excessive, unrealistic and unreasonable."
"The US president fundamentally needs to change his approach," Araghchi said. "One cannot speak to the Iranian people with the language of threats and deadlines."
US hints at NATO rethink, tensions escalate
Rubio reiterated that Washington may "reexamine" its relationship with NATO after the war.
"There's no doubt that after this conflict concludes, we will have to reassess that relationship and its value for our country," he said, adding that the final decision rests with Trump.
The remarks come as Trump continues to criticise NATO allies for not joining the US and Israel in the war against Iran.
Strikes intensify across region
The Israeli military said it has completed a "broad wave of strikes" targeting government infrastructure in Tehran.
It also reported that a surface-to-air missile struck a drone deployed to assist Israeli troops in southern Lebanon overnight. The drone crashed, but officials said there is no risk of sensitive information being leaked.
According to Channel 12, the drone had entered northern Israel over Kiryat Shmona, triggering alarms in nearby areas including Safad. Search operations are ongoing.
Iran's ISNA news agency reported that several nurses were killed while on duty, though medical services continue uninterrupted, citing the Nursing System Organisation.
Casualty claims and military assertions
The Israeli military said that in the first month of the war, it conducted over 800 airstrikes using around 16,000 munitions. It claimed more than 2,000 Iranian soldiers and commanders were killed and over 4,000 targets struck.
Iran has not officially responded to these figures.
However, Iranian authorities said US-Israeli attacks have killed 1,937 people so far, including 240 women and 212 children. Among the victims was an eight-month-old baby.
The Israeli military has faced past criticism over classifying civilian casualties as fighters, including during the Gaza conflict, where a leaked report suggested only 17 percent of those killed were combatants.
Missile controversy and conflicting claims
United States Central Command denied a report by The New York Times that a Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) was used in an attack on Lamerd on February 28.
CENTCOM spokesperson Tim Hawkins said the allegations were false, adding that US forces did not carry out strikes in Lamerd during the early days of the war.
He argued that the missile seen in footage does not match the PrSM, stating that it appears larger and more consistent with an Iranian Hoveyzeh cruise missile.
The New York Times described the PrSM as a relatively new weapon designed to detonate above targets and disperse tungsten fragments.
Iran's Fars news agency reported that around 15 people, including children, were killed in the Lamerd attack on a gymnasium.
Fresh missile strikes in Israel
Channel 12 reported "loud explosions" and multiple impact sites in central Israel after missile launches from Iran. Sirens were activated in the Gush Dan, Sharon, and Samaria regions.
The attack has since ended, with no casualties reported.
US signals prolonged operation
As tensions escalate in West Asia, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine said the coming days will be "decisive" in the conflict.
Hegseth stated that the war would end only on Trump's terms and emphasised the importance of unpredictability in military strategy.
He added that the US does not intend to deploy troops to Iran, and even if it did, such plans would not be disclosed publicly.
Ready to continue US operation in Iran
Providing an update on military operations, Hegseth said Washington is engaged in talks to end the conflict. However, he warned that if no agreement is reached, the US is prepared to continue "Operation Epic Fury" for another four to eight weeks.