Original Coverage & Source Attribution: news.az
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei has said Tehran remains prepared for “any scenario” while keeping the door to diplomacy open, despite Washington’s insistence on what he described as “unilateral” demands in negotiations.
Baghaei made the remarks in an interview with German public broadcaster ARD published on Sunday, saying Iranians do not trust the United States and must be prepared to defend their country with all their might, Press TV reports.
“We have never walked away from the negotiating table or closed the door to diplomacy. At the same time, we have been fully prepared to defend our territory. So, yes, messages are being conveyed through mediators,” he added.
He emphasised that Washington was insisting on unilateral demands, particularly its repeated calls for Iran’s “complete surrender”.
“This is what no Iranian will accept,” Baghaei pointed out.
The spokesman noted that the United States had failed to demonstrate even a minimum of goodwill or resolve to pursue a diplomatic approach, pointing to two attacks on Iran in less than a year while negotiations were under way.
The attacks showed that Washington was not genuinely serious about diplomacy with Tehran, he said.
“However, as I said, we have been steadfast and serious in using diplomatic tools to achieve peace, while being at the same time prepared to defend ourselves against any aggression,” Baghaei reiterated.
He also accused European countries of choosing to accommodate the United States rather than pursue an independent policy, saying that the international community had expected the European Union to play an independent role.
“We would much prefer to see a confident Europe capable of playing an independent and mature role in global politics, rather than one that consistently pursues a policy of appeasement towards US policies, particularly in our region,” he added.
Baghaei noted that the problem had begun when European countries abandoned their constructive role in the nuclear issue and chose to side with Washington.
Asked about the Strait of Hormuz, Baghaei said the strategic waterway had been open before the US-Israeli war, emphasising that Iran had acted as its guardian for decades and centuries.
He added that the United States and Israel had used the waterway, as well as the territory, soil and military facilities of Persian Gulf countries, to launch attacks against Iran.
Baghaei said Iran had consequently been forced to take “serious” measures to protect its national security, arguing that such actions were lawful under international law.
“As a coastal state, we had every right; we had a responsibility to take measures to counter security threats posed by hostile parties, by aggressors, against Iranian territory,” the spokesman said.
Under the Islamabad MoU, he added, Iran and the United States had agreed to ensure security in the Strait of Hormuz within two months, but Washington had backed away from its commitments in less than three weeks.
He noted that the United States was imposing what it called “economic isolation” on Iran, describing it as both “economic terrorism and an act of war”.
“The Strait of Hormuz is not safe, not because Iran has made it unsafe, but because the US and Israel are using the entire region to carry out military aggression and continue their illegal and aggressive actions against Iran,” Baghaei reiterated.
“Therefore, as long as this situation persists, we have no choice but to take the necessary measures to protect our territorial integrity, national security, and people,” he said.
News.Az
