Netanyahu says Israel 'breaking the bones' of Islamic Republic

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of Iran's parliament, said on Tuesday that Tehran was not seeking a ceasefire in the war.

"We are certainly not seeking a ceasefire. We believe the aggressor must be struck so it learns a lesson and never again thinks of attacking Iran," Ghalibaf wrote on X.

He added that Israel relied on a cycle of "war, negotiations and ceasefire and then war again" to maintain its dominance, and said Iran would break that cycle.

Iran's nationwide internet blackout has reached 240 hours, making it one of the most severe government-imposed shutdowns recorded globally, internet monitor NetBlocks said on Tuesday.

The group said the disruption is the second longest shutdown registered in Iran after the January protests and noted that the country has spent roughly a third of 2026 offline.

Internet connectivity in Iran has fallen to a fraction of normal levels during recent blackouts, severely limiting the flow of information from inside the country, according to monitoring data.

Iran's government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said on Tuesday that military officials should comment on any plans related to the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a strategic asset while the country remains at war.

She said the waterway was a geographic resource given to Iran and that the country would make full use of all available resources while in a state of war, according to comments carried by Iranian state media.

Mohajerani added that Iran did not start the conflict but would bring it to an end. "We did not start the war, but we will be the ones to end it," she said.

She said Iran hoped hostilities would stop but was prepared for all scenarios and added that talks could take place only after the fighting stops. "If the war fully stops, then we can talk," she said.

Mohajerani held Tuesday's news conference at Gandhi Hospital. Previously, Esmaeil Baghaei held a news conference at a school.

Turkey's defence ministry said on Tuesday a US Patriot air defence system was deployed to the southeastern province of Malatya as part of NATO steps to strengthen the country's air defences amid missile threats linked to the Iran war.

The ministry said the Kurecik NATO radar base in Malatya provides key data for the alliance and helped detect two Iranian ballistic missiles headed toward Turkey.

Turkey will continue to coordinate with NATO allies and assess regional developments, the ministry said.

Iran launched drones and missiles toward Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates in the early hours of Tuesday, authorities in the three Persian Gulf states said.

Saudi defense ministry said it destroyed two drones over the country’s oil-rich Eastern Province.

Kuwait said it shot down six drones that were attacking northern and southern parts of the country.

The United Arab Emirates’ defense ministry also said air defenses were confronting missile threats and drones coming from Iran.