Baghaei: US President's Admission Cites Full International Liability

Tehran - BORNA - Esmaeil Baghaei, in his press conference today (Monday), responded to a question about the US President's statement claiming responsibility for the Zionist regime's attack on Iran, saying: "This comment is one of the newest and clearest reasons and pieces of evidence of America's definitive participation in the military aggression against Iran."

He continued: "There was no doubt in this regard; from the very beginning of the war, the Americans had active complicity with the Zionist regime, and subsequently, they formally entered the war themselves. Therefore, these remarks are not considered a new development, but the fact that he explicitly confesses that 'we have full command and responsibility for this aggression' rejects the previous claim made by the country's Secretary of State on June 13 that they had no role in the attack."

The Spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran said: "This explicit confession to the commission of an international crime entails the full responsibility of the US government, and we immediately, in extension of this issue, registered this confession as a document in the Security Council and the United Nations."

He also added: "We are seriously pursuing the documentation of the crimes committed by the Zionist regime and the US against Iran, and we are working with the legal vice-presidency and the judiciary to pursue all possibilities for seeking justice for the Iranian nation."

I Will Serve as Spokesman with Vigor as Long as the Minister Deems Appropriate

In response to a question about rumors that he would soon become Iran's new Ambassador to the United Nations, Baghaei addressed reporters: "I am and will continue to be at your service, and as long as the Minister deems it appropriate, I will perform my duties in this responsibility with vigor and seriousness."

He jokingly added that "in my opinion, the responsibility of spokesperson is the most important responsibility in the world," continuing, "unless you reporters want to choose a new job for me."

Ambassadors Represent the Sovereignty and System

The Foreign Ministry Spokesman further responded to a question about the rumored selection of non-Foreign Ministry personnel as Ambassadors to Russia and Italy, saying: "The selection of ambassadors follows a specific process. Ambassadors are not merely representatives of the Foreign Ministry; they are representatives of the sovereignty and the system in the receiving countries. Therefore, the process of selecting candidates for such responsibilities is carried out in coordination and participation with the Foreign Ministry and other relevant bodies."

Referring to the selection of new Iranian Ambassadors to India and North Korea, Baghaei continued: "The process for selecting new Iranian Ambassadors to Italy and Russia is ongoing. The matter of choosing the new Ambassador to Rome has become somewhat more serious, and we will announce the selected individual after the necessary procedures are completed."

Responsible Bodies Are Following Up on Somali Pirate Attack on Iranian Fishing Vessel

The Foreign Ministry Spokesman, in continuation of his conversation with reporters, in response to an question regarding reports of a pirate attack on an Iranian fishing vessel off Somalia, said: "We have received reports regarding this incident. Responsible departments in the Foreign Ministry and other related organizations are currently following up on this matter."

He added: "This area is an insecure zone, and unfortunately, dhows and ships from various countries are subjected to attacks from time to time."

Announcement of Kazakhstan Joining the Abraham Accords is a Political Show to Claim the Zionist Regime is Not Isolated

In response to another question about President Donald Trump's announcement last week that Kazakhstan had joined the Abraham Accords and Iran's view on the matter, given the continuation of the Zionist regime's crimes in the region and Gaza, the Foreign Ministry Spokesman said: "Generally, we believe that a regime committing ongoing genocide in Gaza and aggressive actions in the region does not deserve any recognition or normalization. A normalization view towards the Zionist regime encourages this regime to continue its crimes."

Baghaei noted: "Therefore, the entirety of the issue is rejected by us, and it should also be noted that diplomatic relations have existed between Kazakhstan and the Zionist regime for three decades. Announcing this matter at the current juncture is a political show to indicate that the Zionist regime is not isolated. The US attempts to sideline the main issue, which is the continuation of occupation by the Zionist regime, through such theatrical actions, and this makes the responsibility of countries heavier, to prevent the main issue and the root of problems in our region from being forgotten, and from being diverted from the core issue."

Australia's Consular Activities in Iran Will Continue Through Other Means with the Help of Friendly Countries

The Foreign Ministry Spokesman, in response to a question regarding the activities of the Australian Embassy in Iran and the provision of consular services by that country, said: "As you know, the level of our relations with Australia has decreased, and we have been told that this country's consular activities in Iran will continue through other means with the help of their friendly countries."

The American People Do Not Support Spending Their Country's Wealth and Reputation for the Genocidal Zionist Regime

In response to a question about the election of "Zahra Mamdani" as the Mayor of New York, a person who supports the Palestinian cause and opposes the Zionist regime's crimes, the Foreign Ministry Spokesman said: "The US election is an internal matter, and the messages received from these elections and the elected individuals are highly notable."

He said: "One of the messages received from these elections is that American public opinion and the people of this country are dissatisfied with their government's policies towards the region, especially the support for the Zionist regime's crimes. The American people do not support spending America's wealth and reputation for the genocidal Zionist regime. There is a kind of gap in American society that can be referred to as a collective protest against the US's bullying and norm-violating policies at the international level."

We Welcome Any Action That Reduces Sanctions Against the Syrian People

The Foreign Ministry Spokesman, in response to a question about reports regarding the imminent deployment of US military forces to a base in Damascus, Syria, and Iran's view on this, said: "We have always said that any US military presence in the region only causes instability in our region."

He added: "The US presence in Syria over these years has been a cover for looting the wealth of the Syrian people and supporting insecurity in that country, and its current presence will have no goal other than serving the interests of the occupiers and the destabilizing Zionist regime."

Regarding the lifting of Security Council sanctions against the Syrian people, he said: "The sanctions that have put the Syrian people under pressure for years and deprived them of their basic rights are rejected by us, and we welcome any action that reduces sanctions against the Syrian people."

Whatever the Results of the Iraqi Elections, the Friendly Trend Between the Two Nations of Iran and Iraq Will Continue

In continuation of his conversation with reporters, the Foreign Ministry Spokesman responded to a question about remarks by Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein stating that Baghdad's problem is not the lack of agreement between the US and Iran, and that Iraq wants good relations with both, considering Iran its big neighbor and the US its friend. He said: "Our big neighbor Iraq certainly knows how to manage its problems with other players."

He emphasized: "Our relationship with Iraq is very important and friendly, and we are confident that whatever the election results may be, this friendly trend between the two nations will continue."

The senior Iranian diplomat added: "We understand that the current political climate in Iraq is an election environment. Our position is very clear; we believe that elections in Iraq are an internal matter, and we hope that the Iraqi people participate in the process determining their political future in the best possible way, and God willing, the outcome that is for the good and welfare of Iraq will be revealed as the election result."

Our View is Toward the Future, But Past Experiences Cannot Be Ignored

In response to a question regarding a notice signed by 80 members of Parliament calling for the pursuit of US crimes in the 12-day war in international courts and asserting that the US should be recognized globally as a "war criminal," the Spokesman emphasized that Iran's view is toward the future, but past experiences cannot be ignored.

Baghaei added: "I have repeatedly mentioned that we certainly do not live in the past; our outlook is forward-looking, but certainly with an eye on past experiences. There is no need to go back to 1953 or 1332 to see what the US approach toward the Iranian nation has been; it is enough to consider three months ago, [the month of] Khordad (June)."

He criticized views that ignore the US actions against Iran and the region: "These views, which I believe are presented unilaterally and ignore the US's actions regarding Iran and the region, are far from the realities."

Referring to the US President's recent statements, he said: "The US explicitly states that we practiced for 22 years to attack Iran's peaceful nuclear facilities. This means that throughout all these years, even while dialogue was taking place, the US regime was planning to harm the Iranian nation. In such a situation... the necessary conditions for negotiation are difficult to form."

Our Demand from the IAEA and its Director General Remains

Referring to the recent stances of the IAEA Director General, Baghaei emphasized: "The Director General himself has explicitly stated, not only in his reports but also in recent interviews, that Iran's nuclear program is peaceful, and there is no reason or evidence for Iran's deviation from the peaceful path."

He added: "Our demand from the International Atomic Energy Agency and its Director General remains in place, and we expect them to adopt technical and impartial positions regarding Iran's nuclear program."

He mentioned that Agency inspectors visited several Iranian nuclear centers, including the Tehran Research Reactor, just last week.

Americans Say They Want An Agreement, But in Reality, They Do Not

In response to a question that the US President, after admitting his command of the attack on Iran, further claimed Iran wants to agree and that they are good negotiators who don't say they want a deal but truly seek one, Baghaei stated: "My opinion in this regard is that they are the opposite. The Americans say they want to agree, but in reality, they do not, and they take no practical steps toward an agreement; they do the reverse."

He stressed: "They have shown in practice that they have no goodwill or seriousness in this regard."

You Would Think Them United, But Their Hearts Are Divided

In response to a question about reports regarding the US Secretary of Defense's order to dismiss 20 US generals and admirals, Baghaei said: "I will suffice with this Quranic expression in response, which says: 'You would think them united, while their hearts are divided.'" (تحسبهم جميعا و قلوبهم شتى).

Iran's Diplomatic Relations with Saudi Arabia Have Been Growing and Positive Over the Past Two Years

In response to a question about the recent trip of Deputy Foreign Minister "Kazem Gharibabadi" to Saudi Arabia and the current level of Tehran-Riyadh relations, the Foreign Ministry Spokesman said: "The diplomatic relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Saudi Arabia have had a growing and positive trend over the past two years, and both sides are determined to seriously continue this path in various fields."

We Have Not and Will Not Limit Our Diplomatic Interactions with Europe Exclusively to the Nuclear Issue

In response to a question about the current relations between Iran and European countries and the recent phone call between "Emmanuel Macron" and the Iranian President regarding the nuclear issue, the Spokesman said: "We have not and will not limit our diplomatic interactions with Europe exclusively to the nuclear issue. They misused the dispute resolution mechanism in the JCPOA, and this was a wrong step that affected the negotiation processes."

He added: "It is natural to hear statements from European parties in any conversation about the importance of negotiations and dialogue, but we must witness their seriousness and goodwill in action, and we cannot achieve a negotiation process merely by talking."

The Attempt to Undermine Iran's Friendly Relations with Other Countries is a Program of the Zionist Regime

In response to the alleged plot by Iran for sabotage in Mexico in 2024, the Spokesman called the accusation "baseless and truly ridiculous."

Baghaei added: "The attempt to undermine Iran's friendly relations with other countries is a program of the Zionist regime. The entire matter is fabricated... You saw that both the Mexican Foreign Ministry and its intelligence agencies issued statements and explicitly denied that such an issue ever existed."

US Interference in Iraq's Internal Affairs is Definitely Harmful

Regarding the Iraqi parliamentary elections and the attempts by some extra-regional countries to influence them, the Spokesman noted: "As I mentioned, the Iraqi election is important, and any foreign intervention in this process is condemned... US interventions in Iraq's internal affairs are definitely harmful, and history shows that the US has been to the detriment of every country it has intervened in."

6 Valuable Cultural Artifacts Were Returned to Iran During the President's Recent Trip to New York

The Foreign Ministry Spokesman also discussed Iran's role in registering the Cyrus Cylinder as the first written human rights document and the actions taken for the return of Iran's stolen cultural properties. He said: "Iran played the main role in this regard, and at the UNESCO session, we advanced the issue in cooperation with Tajikistan and Iraq. The decision regarding this matter at the UNESCO session was made by consensus, and other countries cooperated."

Baghaei, stating that "this issue is important from various aspects," continued: "The fact that we try and succeed in bringing back our valuable historical assets from other countries to Iran is an issue we have constantly emphasized, and efforts have continuously been made in this regard, as 6 valuable cultural artifacts were returned to the country during the President's recent trip to New York and are scheduled to be delivered to one of the museums."

The Foreign Ministry Spokesman added: "Just today in Samarkand, a resolution proposed by Iran and several other countries regarding the necessity of countries cooperating to return smuggled cultural properties was approved at the UNESCO session."

France Must Show Its Seriousness and Goodwill

In response to another question regarding the Foreign Ministry's reaction to the French Foreign Minister's statement expressing interest in negotiating Iran's nuclear file, and whether Iran's nuclear file will be on the agenda of the next IAEA Board of Governors meeting, Baghaei emphasized:

"Expressing interest is not enough; they must show their seriousness and goodwill, which, unfortunately, is what we are lacking."

He stressed: "The Board of Governors meeting will typically address a series of technical issues in the nuclear field. The Iranian nuclear issue will also be one of the topics. This is not strange. We anticipate that, given the action taken by the three European countries and the US at the UN Security Council level to reinstate the revoked Security Council resolutions, they may also want to reflect that action here in the Board of Governors. My colleagues in the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Vienna are in contact with the Board members, and we are striving to best safeguard our country's interests in the upcoming meeting."

We Consider It Our Duty Not to Fail in Any Action to Save the Iranian Citizen Detained in the UK

The Foreign Ministry Spokesman also spoke about efforts to free the Iranian citizen detained in the UK for nearly 20 years, and the recent letter written by Armenian MPs in Iran to British authorities in this regard: "We saw the letter that the Armenian compatriots' representatives wrote to the UK authorities in the media. The Iranian national, who is an Armenian compatriot, has been imprisoned in the UK for years."

Baghaei noted: "He was supposed to be released in 2011 and 2012 based on a pardon he had received, but British authorities refused his release on various pretexts. His condition in the UK prison is not suitable at all; he has an elderly mother, and we requested his prompt release so he could pursue his treatment in Iran and see his family and mother."

Baghaei added: "British authorities have claimed that his release might harm British citizens, which we have stated is not true, and we can quickly return him to Iran."

He pointed to the follow-up by the Iranian Embassy in London: "We hope the British parties, given his unsuitable condition and the verdict issued concerning him, will arrange for the swift release of this Iranian citizen, who is incidentally not a dual national and is an Iranian citizen, having previously renounced his British citizenship at one point."

Baghaei emphasized: "For us, supporting citizens is important regardless of their religion, ethnicity, or political belief, and we consider it our duty not to fail in any action to save this citizen."

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