Baghaei: At This Stage, We Only Negotiate the "Complete Cessation and Termination of War"

Tehran - BORNA - Esmaeil Baghaei, honoring the memory of the martyred teachers of the Shajareh Tayyiba school in Minab, said: "When the pure bodies of these teachers were found, each was holding a child in their arms and had tried until the last moment to protect their students."

The Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, pointing out that during the war imposed by the U.S. and the Zionist regime on Iran, 184 students were martyred, added: "Additionally, during these attacks, 36 teachers were martyred, and 650 schools and educational units were destroyed in 17 provinces."

Ships Must Coordinate with Iran to Pass Through the Strait of Hormuz

In connection with recent remarks by U.S. President Trump that the U.S. will help ships wishing to pass through the Strait of Hormuz and that this action is a humanitarian operation, and what Iran's response is to these remarks, he said: "Those responsible for responding to these types of illegal movements and actions are well-prepared and know how to defend the national interests of the country, and in this regard, this morning (Monday) we witnessed the statement from the Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters Command."

Baghaei, emphasizing that the world does not accept America's humanitarian claims and does not believe it can exit this self-made quagmire—which has caused numerous problems for everyone—by repeating past mistakes, added: "America must have learned this lesson that it cannot use the language of threat and force regarding Iran, and Iran considers itself the guardian of the Strait of Hormuz."

The Foreign Ministry Spokesperson emphasized: "Certainly, ships and shipowners know well that to ensure their security, they must definitely coordinate with the competent Iranian authorities."

Iran and Oman Must Define a Specific Mechanism for Safe Transit

Regarding the objectives of the Iranian Foreign Minister's visit to regional countries, especially Oman, Baghaei said: "We and Oman are coastal countries of the Strait of Hormuz and must define a specific mechanism to ensure safe shipping transit." He emphasized: "Our goal regarding the management of the Strait of Hormuz is safe transit from this waterway."

Those Who Committed Heinous Crimes Against Iranians Must Be Punished

The senior Iranian diplomat, regarding the concern expressed by U.S. senators about the failure to achieve U.S. goals in the war against Iran, said: "This is a question that public opinion raises. Of course, in this matter, the only topics addressed are the military and economic consequences of this war, but those who committed heinous crimes against Iranians must be punished."

Regarding Grossi's remarks that "an agreement between Iran and the U.S. requires political will from Tehran," Baghaei said: "Do not be very surprised by these remarks. He constantly repeats this proposition and does not pay attention to the realities on the ground. The surprising point is that the Director General of the Agency witnessed the warmongering and anti-diplomatic actions of the U.S. during both rounds of negotiations, and the problem is exclusively due to the highly destructive performance of the U.S. that no diplomatic process has reached a result."

We Are Also a Superpower

In response to a question from an Arabic network journalist stating that "America is a superpower, why does Iran not back down against it?", Baghaei said: "We are also a superpower."

In response to a question regarding recent remarks by some Lebanese officials against Iran and Hezbollah, claiming the resistance movement caused the country to get involved in the war, he stated: "Lebanon's Hezbollah and the Lebanese resistance are the pride of this country, the Arab world, and the Islamic Ummah, and no one doubts that Hezbollah and the Lebanese resistance fight the Zionist regime for the dignity and independence of Lebanon."

Visa Waiver Between Iran and Lebanon Canceled

In response to another question regarding the Lebanese government's cancellation of the visa waiver between Iran and Lebanon and reports that Iran has taken reciprocal action, he said: "For a long time, we had an agreement with Lebanon regarding a visa waiver for the travel of Iranian and Lebanese citizens, which was a suitable facility for the travel of the two countries' nationals. However, some time ago, the Lebanese government unilaterally canceled this waiver for Iranian citizens, and naturally, the Iranian Foreign Ministry took reciprocal action."

Baghaei added: "At the same time, to ensure no problems arise, we have created special facilities, including the granting of immediate visa issuance facilities at points of entry."

Regarding the receipt of the U.S. response to Iran's proposals, he announced that this response was received through Pakistan. Without providing further details, he said: "Allow me not to discuss the details of the points raised now because it is under review. Of course, you can well guess that the U.S. is accustomed to excessive and unreasonable demands and it is not easy to quit this habit."

No Talks on Anything Except "Cessation and Complete Termination of War"

In response to a question about the details of Iran's 14-point proposal and issues such as enrichment and nuclear materials, emphasizing that the points raised in the media are largely speculation, he explained: "Speculations are sometimes based on the previous records of negotiations. We were previously talking exclusively about the nuclear issue... but no final decision has ever been made on any of them."

Baghaei stated: "At this stage, we have no talk about anything else except the 'cessation and complete termination of war.' What direction we take in the future will be decided in its own time."

UAE and OPEC

Regarding the UAE's withdrawal from OPEC, he said: "I think for a country to engage in behavior as a negative reaction or retaliatory measure against the region or OPEC member countries is not appropriate or constructive. In these 40 to 50 days, we witnessed inappropriate behavior from this country; they accompanied the parties committing aggression against Iran."

U.S. Troop Reduction in Europe

Regarding Trump's remarks about reducing forces in some European countries, he stated: "The ill-advised action of the U.S. in attacking Iran has had very extensive consequences, including creating a rift and disagreement among countries that were previously U.S. allies. It is time for European countries to see with courage the result of blindly following U.S. policies and decide to adopt a more independent approach."

Europe and the Strait of Hormuz

Regarding the French President's remarks that France will not participate in the U.S. plan for the Strait of Hormuz but is pursuing its own proposal with the UK, Baghaei stated: "Our advice to these countries is not to complicate the existing situation. Iran, as a coastal state of the Strait of Hormuz, has taken measures in accordance with international and domestic law to ensure no aggression or threat by invading parties against its national security and interests; this is an accepted principle in international law and the Law of the Sea. If these countries want to help, the best assistance is to prevent the escalation of illegal U.S. actions within and beyond the region."

He emphasized: "Keep in mind that the current problem for international shipping and free trade is not necessarily in the Persian Gulf or the Strait of Hormuz; rather, the U.S. has made international waters insecure due to repeated piracy against Iranian vessels and ships belonging to other countries. This is not the first time the U.S. has searched and seized ships in open waters."

Bahrain’s Revocation of Citizenship

Responding to a question about the revocation of citizenship for several Bahraini citizens for expressing solidarity with Iran, the spokesperson said: "Revocation of citizenship is a completely inhumane act. It is essentially a punishment that became obsolete long ago. No one in the global community can approve of such actions; it is strange that they expect the people of regional countries not to even show empathy toward a fellow Muslim country during the month of Ramadan. If you take a poll, the vast majority of people in the region and Muslims worldwide express empathy and sympathy with Iran."

He added: "These types of actions are reminiscent of the measures taken by the former dictator of Iraq, who revoked the citizenship of and expelled many individuals simply based on the claim that 'you are Iranian.' It was expected that after nearly 60 years, such actions would no longer take place. Human rights organizations must clearly state their positions; this is a violation of the human rights of Bahraini citizens, and the authorities of that country must be held accountable."

Lebanon and the Palestinian Cause

Regarding whether ending the war in Lebanon is a condition for Iran, Baghaei stated: "We announced that stopping the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, was one of the understandings reached in the April 8 (Farvardin 19) ceasefire agreement. Although the other side initially claimed such a thing did not exist, they later confirmed it. This is because, firstly, regional developments are interconnected, and secondly, what happened in Lebanon cannot be separated from what has occurred in the entire region. Therefore, in any agreement, the issue of ending the war in Lebanon must, in principle, be considered."

On the issue of Gaza, he noted: "First, regarding Palestine, the Palestinians themselves decide. Furthermore, we do not consider ourselves a guardian for any part of the region to make decisions. But in the case of Palestine, consider the overall situation: the Palestinian people are fighting for their right to self-determination against occupation, apartheid, and genocide. Can anyone tell them to 'ceasefire' for the sake of achieving your basic right to self-determination? This is a matter for the Palestinian people. I believe the Palestinian cause is not just an Islamic one, but a humanitarian one."

European Realism and Defensive Actions

Baghaei remarked that blind adherence to U.S. policies is neither in the interest of international peace nor the norms the EU claims to herald. Regarding reports of attacks in the Kurdistan Region, he clarified: "The Islamic Republic of Iran does not carry out 'attacks' against any regional country. We cannot use the word 'attack' for Iran's defensive measures. We have always sought the best relations and good neighborliness with all neighbors. However, in these two months, we have faced a situation where the soil of these regions was misused to design and execute aggressive acts against Iran. In such circumstances, according to international law, it is Iran's inherent right to take necessary defensive measures to protect its people and interests."

Consultations with Russia and China

Regarding requests for guarantees from Moscow and Beijing, he stated: "We are in constant contact with Russia and China as countries with which we have numerous agreements, including strategic partnership treaties. However, ultimately, we know we must rely on ourselves to exercise our rights. The most important guarantee for a country's rights is that country's own power. What you refer to could eventually, in the event of an agreement, become part of a UN Security Council resolution."

U.S. Accountability and the Zionist Regime

Baghaei emphasized that since the U.S. officially entered the war and gave a "green light" to the Zionist regime, U.S. commitments in any ceasefire agreement must include its regional allies. He reiterated: "The policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran toward the Zionist regime has not changed, and Iran still does not recognize this regime."

Iranian Citizens in France

Addressing the "unpleasant incidents" in France, Baghaei stated: "We previously raised concerns that these behaviors create suspicions of racism and terrorist acts. Regarding the cases of the two citizens murdered, we are still demanding answers. Despite more than a year passing since that bitter incident, our embassy in Paris is still following up. Regarding the recent incident around April 13 or 14 (Farvardin 24/25), our embassy is pursuing it, and we will also follow up through the French embassy in Tehran. We have a duty to seriously pursue the rights of Iranian nationals anywhere in the world."

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