Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Wednesday that Tehran does not seek war but must remain prepared to fight to the end.

Axar.az reports, citing Iran International, that he added that Iran would continue using diplomacy and negotiations to protect its national interests.

“We have never welcomed war and do not, but we must always be ready to fight and stand to the end to safeguard our national security and interests,” he noted.

He added that Iran was in what he described as an “essential and existential war” with the United States, accusing Washington of seeking both to topple the Islamic Republic and fragment Iran.