Ceasefire: Our Hands Still On Trigger, We Will Respond To Slight Mistake With Full Force – Iran

Iranian Foreign Affairs minister, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi has warned United States of America and Israel not to play any smart game during the two week ceasefire pact they just entered into because their fighting spirit is still intact.
“Our hands are on the trigger, and at the slightest mistake from the enemy, we will respond with full force.”
In a statement today, April 8, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi assured Iranian citizens that nearly all war objectives have been achieved, saying: “your brave sons have brought the enemy to historic helplessness and lasting defeat.”
He described the current negotiations as a continuation of the battlefield and that all people, elites and political groups must trust and support this process under the supervision of the Leader and the highest levels of the system and avoid divisive statements.
“If the enemy’s surrender on the battlefield turns into a decisive political gain in negotiations, we will celebrate this historic victory together; otherwise, we will continue fighting shoulder-to-shoulder until all demands of the Iranian nation are achieved.”
Read the full text of the statement of Seyyed Abbas Araghchi:
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
It is announced to the noble, great, and heroic people of Iran:
The enemy, in its unjust, illegal, and criminal war against the Iranian nation, has suffered an undeniable, historic, and crushing defeat. Through the blessings of the pure blood of the martyred leader of the Islamic Revolution, Grand Ayatollah Imam Khamenei (peace be upon him), the leadership and guidance of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution and Commander-in-Chief, Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei (may God protect him), and the bravery of the fighters, Iran has achieved a great victory and forced the United States to accept its 10-point plan.
This plan includes non-aggression, continued Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz, acceptance of enrichment, lifting all sanctions, ending UN resolutions, compensation to Iran, and withdrawal of U.S. forces from the region.
We congratulate the Iranian people on this victory, while emphasizing that unity, resilience, and wise leadership remain essential until final outcomes are secured.
Over the past 40 days, Iran and the resistance axis have delivered unforgettable blows to the enemy.
Iran and the resistance have crushed the enemy’s forces, infrastructure, and strategic capabilities, leaving it in a state of collapse and desperation, with no option but submission.
At the beginning of the war, the enemy believed it would quickly dominate Iran and impose instability to force surrender.
They miscalculated Iran’s strength, assuming its missile and drone capabilities would fade and that it could not respond beyond its borders.
They even believed they could dismantle Iran, seize its resources, and plunge the country into chaos.
However, the fighters of Iran and the resistance, despite deep losses, chose to deliver a historic and decisive response, ensuring the enemy would abandon any future aggression.
With unprecedented unity, Iran and the resistance launched one of the heaviest combined wars in history against the United States and the Zionist regime.
They have nearly destroyed the U.S. military presence in the region, inflicted heavy casualties, and delivered devastating strikes across multiple fronts, including inside occupied territories.
Within just 10 days, the enemy realized it could not win this war, and began seeking contact with Iran through various channels to request a ceasefire.
Supreme National Security Council: We now give glad tidings to the great nation of Iran that nearly all war objectives have been achieved, and your brave sons have brought the enemy to historic helplessness and lasting defeat.
The noble people of Iran should know that, thanks to the efforts and historic presence of our sons on the battlefield, the enemy has been begging for over a month to stop Iran’s fierce fire and the resistance. However, the country’s officials, since the beginning, had decided that the war would continue until the enemy was thoroughly humbled and long-term threats to the country were eliminated.
Iran has repeatedly rejected deadlines presented by the U.S. president and continues to emphasize that no such deadlines from the enemy hold any significance.
Iran’s historic decision, supported by the unified will of the nation, is to continue this battle as long as necessary to consolidate the immense achievements and establish new security and political equations in the region based on Iran’s power and sovereignty.
In line with the guidance of Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei (may God protect him) and the Supreme National Security Council, and given Iran and the resistance’s upper hand and the enemy’s inability to enforce threats, negotiations will be held in Islamabad to finalize the details within 15 days.
Iran has presented a 10-point plan to the U.S. via Pakistan, emphasizing key points including:
• Controlled passage of the Strait of Hormuz under Iranian coordination
• Ending the war against all parts of the resistance axis
• Withdrawal of U.S. forces from all bases and positions in the region
• Establishing a safe passage protocol in the Strait of Hormuz guaranteeing Iranian control
• Full compensation to Iran
• Lifting all primary and secondary sanctions and UN Security Council resolutions
• Releasing all frozen Iranian assets abroad
• Adoption of all these points in a binding Security Council resolution.
Approval of this resolution will convert these agreements into binding international law and represent a major diplomatic victory for Iran.
The Prime Minister of Pakistan has informed Iran that the U.S., despite its apparent threats, has accepted these principles as the basis of negotiations and submitted to the will of the Iranian nation.
It has been decided at the highest level that Iran will conduct two weeks of negotiations in Islamabad based solely on these principles. This does not mean the war is over; Iran will only accept the end of the war once these principles are confirmed in detail.
These negotiations, beginning Friday, 21 Farvardin, will proceed with complete distrust of the U.S., and Iran will allocate two weeks, extendable by mutual agreement. During this period, national unity must be maintained, and victory celebrations should continue strongly.
We give glad tidings to the great nation of Iran that nearly all war objectives have been achieved, and your brave sons have brought the enemy to historic helplessness and lasting defeat.
Current negotiations are national and a continuation of the battlefield; all people, elites, and political groups must trust and support this process under the supervision of the Leader and the highest levels of the system and avoid divisive statements.
If the enemy’s surrender on the battlefield turns into a decisive political gain in negotiations, we will celebrate this historic victory together; otherwise, we will continue fighting shoulder-to-shoulder until all demands of the Iranian nation are achieved.
Our hands are on the trigger, and at the slightest mistake from the enemy, we will respond with full force.


Professor Yilwatda described the attack as barbaric, painful, unacceptable and a direct assault on our common humanity, stressing that the time has come for all stakeholders to move beyond routine condemnation and work deliberately and collectively to prevent any recurrence of such senseless violence.




It added: “with coordinated teamwork, effective and swift action, the (Nursing) unit has consistently upheld the highest standard, setting a benchmark for health care delivery within the federal capital Territory for the 2025.”


Religious Harmony: Need For Govt, Others To Strike Strategic Partnership With Interfaith Media Group
There’s no doubt that Nigeria has long emerged as a nation of diverse faith, ethnicity and culture. In that context therefore, the pursuit of religious harmony has become not just a moral aspiration but a strategic imperative for national security and sustainable development.
Over the years, Nigeria has grappled with recurrent religious tension, misinformation and identity-based conflicts. Such tensions have continually threatened its unity and undermined its socio-economic progress.
These are the factors that have brought about the need for innovative, coordinated and credible platforms that can bridge the divides for the purpose of fostering dialogue.
The Guild of Interfaith Media Practitioners Nigeria (GIMP-Nigeria), which stands as unique intersection of media practice and interfaith engagement, stands as one of such platforms that deserves greater national attention and institutional support.
As a professional body made up of experienced journalists, editors, communication experts and faith-conscious media practitioners, the Guild is strategically positioned to influence public discourse, counter harmful stereotypes and promote narratives that emphasize co-existence, mutual respect and shared national values.
It must be stressed that so far, the great potential of the group has remained barely noticed and therefore underutilized.
It is therefore imperative for government institutions, faith leaders and interfaith non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to deliberately leverage GIMP-Nigeria as a partner in advancing religious harmony and strengthening national security.
It is a fact well known across the world that the role of the media in shaping perceptions is unquatifiable. This is backgrounded in the dictum which says that conflicts are not only fought on the ground but amplified or de-escalated through the media. For example, sensational reporting, biased framing and the spread of unverified information have, at times, exacerbated tensions between religious communities in Nigeria. Conversely, responsible journalism that prioritizes accuracy, balance and sensitivity can serve as a powerful tool for peacebuilding. This is where GIMP-Nigeria’s mandate becomes critical.
By promoting ethical reporting on religious issues and training media practitioners in conflict-sensitive journalism, the Guild can help transform the media landscape from one that sometimes fuels division to one that actively promotes unity.
For the Nigerian government, particularly agencies responsible for information, security and national orientation, partnering with GIMP-Nigeria offers a cost-effective and impactful strategy for peace promotion. Rather than relying solely on top-down communication approaches, the government can benefit from the Guild’s grassroots networks and professional expertise to disseminate messages of tolerance and counter extremist narratives.
Through joint campaigns, public enlightenment programmes and media training workshops, GIMP-Nigeria can serve as a trusted intermediary between the state and the citizenry, thereby enhancing credibility and public trust.
Faith leaders, who wield significant influence over millions of Nigerians also have a critical role to play. The fact can not be controverted that their messages reach only their immediate congregations, but by collaborating with GIMP-Nigeria, they can amplify their voices across wider audiences through structured media engagement.
The Guild can help translate sermons and interfaith dialogues into compelling media content: news features, documentaries, radio programmes and social media campaigns, reaching far audiences beyond the pulpit. This synergy can ensure that messages of peace are not confined to places of worship but become part of the national conversation.
Interfaith NGOs, many of which are already doing commendable work in promoting dialogue and reconciliation can also benefit from the media expertise that GIMP-Nigeria provides. Too often, impactful grassroots initiatives remain under-reported, thereby limiting their reach and replication. By integrating GIMP-Nigeria into their programmes, these organizations can enhance visibility, document success stories and influence policy through strategic communication.
The Guild’s members, trained in both media practice and interfaith sensitivity, are well-equipped to tell stories that inspire hope, challenge prejudice and highlight the dividends of peaceful coexistence.
Beyond collaboration, there is also a need for institutional support. Government agencies and development partners should consider funding capacity-building initiatives led by GIMP-Nigeria, including training programmes on conflict-sensitive reporting, fact-checking and digital literacy.
In an era where misinformation spreads rapidly through social media, equipping media practitioners with the skills to verify information and counter false narratives is essential for national security. GIMP-Nigeria can serve as a hub for such capacity-building efforts, ensuring that journalists and communicators across the country are better prepared to handle sensitive religious issues responsibly.
Moreover, the inclusion of GIMP-Nigeria in national peacebuilding frameworks and security strategies can enhance policy coherence. Too often, media engagement is treated as an afterthought in conflict prevention and response. Recognizing GIMP-Nigeria as a strategic partner can help mainstream communication into peace and security initiatives, ensuring that narratives are aligned with broader national objectives. This approach not only addresses the symptoms of conflict but also tackles its underlying drivers, such as mistrust, misinformation and identity-based polarization.
The private sector and international development partners also have a role to play. Corporate organizations, particularly those operating in conflict-prone areas, have a vested interest in promoting stability. By supporting GIMP-Nigeria’s initiatives as part of their corporate social responsibility, they can contribute to a more peaceful operating environment. Similarly, international donors working on governance, peacebuilding and media development can partner with the Guild to scale up its impact and share best practices across regions.
Ultimately, the quest for religious harmony and national security in Nigeria requires a whole-of-society approach. No single actor, whether government, religious institution, or civil society organization can achieve this goal in isolation. What is needed is a collaborative framework that leverages the strengths of each stakeholder. GIMP-Nigeria offers a ready-made platform for such collaboration, combining professional media expertise with a deep commitment to interfaith understanding.
As Nigeria continues to navigate its complex socio-political landscape, the importance of credible, responsible and peace-oriented communication cannot be overstated. By embracing and empowering GIMP-Nigeria, the nation has an opportunity to harness the power of the media as a force for unity rather than division.
The time to act is now.
Government agencies, faith leaders and interfaith NGOs must move beyond rhetoric and take concrete steps to integrate GIMP-Nigeria into their peacebuilding and security strategies.
In doing so, Nigeria will not only strengthen its internal cohesion but also set an example for other multi-religious societies grappling with similar challenges. Peace is not merely the absence of conflict; it is the presence of justice, understanding and mutual respect. Through strategic partnerships with institutions like GIMP-Nigeria, that vision can become a reality.
The writer, Yusuf Ozi-Usman is the Director of Programmes Development, and member of the Governing Board of the Guild of Interfaith Media Practitioners Nigeria (GIMP-Nigeria). He can be reached at oziusman@yahoo.com