Iran said Monday that its diplomatic apparatus has remained active in recent days, with messages and ideas conveyed through unnamed mediators, despite nine consecutive nights of American strikes on the country.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei argued that Tehran does not have to choose between military action and diplomacy, and can pursue both if they serve its national interests.

“We have been informed by mediators, we have received messages—without going into details—but the main point is that the diplomatic apparatus has been active in recent days and ideas have been conveyed to us by certain mediators,” Baghaei said at a press conference in Tehran.

“I reject the duality of either war or diplomacy. Diplomacy is a tool through which we pursue our national interests, just like war,” he added.

Baghaei did not identify the mediators, leaving unclear whether the messages were conveyed through an existing regional channel or through several separate intermediaries.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned against any U.S. “infiltration” into Iranian territory, according to the Tasnim news agency.

The contrast between Baghaei’s remarks and the IRGC warning may reflect parallel elements of Iran’s response. While the Foreign Ministry continues to emphasize diplomacy, the Revolutionary Guards are projecting military resolve.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday that Washington remains “open to diplomacy” despite the continuing strikes.

The remarks suggest that indirect communication continues despite the hostilities. However, it remains unclear whether the exchanges form part of a structured diplomatic initiative or are intended only to preserve channels of communication between Washington and Tehran.