Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said that Israel and the United States “cannot impose unjust aspirations by force”, as a fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel took hold after 12 days of fighting, AFP reports.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran was forced into the military conflict to defend itself, and I hope that we will never be forced to fight again,” Pezeshkian said during a phone call with United Arab Emirates President Mohammed bin Zayed, according to the official IRNA news agency.