Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei reiterated Tehran’s dedication to ongoing negotiations aimed at resolving the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran during a press conference held on Monday. This comes in the wake of President Donald Trump’s dismissal of Iran’s latest proposal as “totally unacceptable.”

Baghaei emphasized the importance of abiding by the rules of diplomatic processes, stating that all parties involved must make decisions based on their respective national interests. He was quoted by the semi-official Mehr News Agency as saying, “The Islamic Republic of Iran has shown it is serious in pursuing its national interests and legitimate rights, while at the same time participating in diplomatic processes with good faith and reason.”

Contrary to Trump’s remarks, Baghaei pointed out that it is the U.S. that needs to demonstrate its commitment to diplomacy. He referenced the U.S.’s withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action nuclear deal in 2018 and its history of resorting to military action despite ongoing negotiations.

“We fight whenever necessary, and we use the weapon of diplomacy whenever we deem it right,” Baghaei affirmed, underscoring Iran’s approach to handling conflicts through a combination of strength and diplomacy.