Iranian Armed Forces Claim to Be Fully Prepared for Combat

Xinhua News Agency, Tehran, April 22 - The Iranian Tasnim News Agency reported early on the 22nd, citing a spokesperson from the Central Headquarters of the Iranian Armed Forces, that the Iranian Armed Forces are "100% ready" for combat and will give the aggressors a harsher lesson.

The spokesperson stated that if any acts of aggression against Iran occur, the Iranian Armed Forces will immediately launch a fierce attack on designated targets, giving the American and Israeli aggressors "a harsher lesson than ever before." He said that the Iranian Armed Forces are "already 100% combat-ready and prepared to fire at any time."

The Tasnim News Agency reported on the evening of the 21st that Iran officially refused to attend the second round of talks between Iran and the U.S. scheduled for the 22nd in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. The report stated that Iran believes the U.S. is obstructing the achievement of any substantive agreement, and participating in negotiations is merely a waste of time. Iran also announced this news through the Pakistani side, stating that in order to fully protect the rights of the Iranian people, the Iranian delegation will not go to Pakistan on the 22nd.

U.S. President Trump stated on social media on the 21st that at the request of the Pakistani side, he agreed to extend the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran until Iran submits its proposal and completes relevant consultations. He also instructed the U.S. military to continue the maritime blockade against Iran and maintain a state of readiness.