Baghaei: Regional countries should face realities on Yemen, avoid blame-shifting

Tehran - BORNA - Speaking at his weekly press briefing on Monday, Baghaei first referred to his recent visit to Lamerd, which was targeted by the United States during the Ramadan War.

“During this trip, we witnessed firsthand the crime committed by the Americans in the area and the extent of their brutality,” he said. “They carried out this crime in a small city of 30,000 people, attacked the city center and turned the city into a testing ground for their newest weapon. This is incompatible with any standard.”

Referring to the weapon used in the attack, Baghaei said the strike occurred near the city’s blood transfusion center and an educational facility.

“The weapon used in this crime was a prohibited cluster weapon, and what happened was unquestionably a war crime,” he said.

Baghaei said the objective of the US action was to spread fear, noting that the attack took place on the same day that Tehran was struck in the morning and the Shajareh Tayyebeh school in Minab was attacked.

“Within a matter of seconds, 2,000 kilograms of explosives were dropped on the city,” he said.

He added that 21 innocent people, including an Afghan national, were killed in the attacks on Lamerd, while the suffering of those injured and left with lasting disabilities was “indescribable.”

Iran denies interference in Yemen

Asked about allegations of Iranian involvement in developments in Yemen, Baghaei said, “Iran has no involvement in matters related to Yemen.”

“The situation in the region is important to us, and we are concerned that some actors from outside the region are seeking to escalate tensions among Islamic countries and fish in troubled waters,” he said.

“It is within this framework that we clearly state our positions, and expressing those positions should not be interpreted as interference.”

Baghaei said Yemen’s Ansarullah is an independent actor that makes decisions based on its own interests.

“When discussing developments in Yemen, we also need to look at what has happened in the past,” he said. “Yemen is a country that has been subjected to aggression and blockade over the past 10 to 12 years, and Yemenis have made considerable efforts to secure their rights and dignity.”

He added that Yemenis had also come under attack by the Israeli regime and the United States over their “principled position in support of the Palestinian people and opposition to the Israeli regime’s genocide.”

“They demonstrated that they are free people,” Baghaei said.

Referring to statements by some regional countries and allegations they have made against Iran over Yemen, Baghaei said, “My recommendation to all countries in the region is to see the realities and avoid blame-shifting.”

Baghaei also offered condolences to the family of what he described as the latest Iranian martyr of resistance against US actions.

“As you know, amid the effort to make navigation in the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman insecure, the American enemy attacked a vessel near Hengam Island,” he said.

Baghaei said an Iranian national named Jamshid Rajabi was killed and several others were injured, including two Pakistani nationals working aboard the vessel.

“We extend our condolences to the family of the martyr and wish the injured a speedy recovery,” he said.

Baghaei said the incident was another indication that the United States, “thousands of kilometers away from its own borders,” had deployed military forces to the region while claiming concern for maritime safety and security.

“Yet near our borders and off our shores, it attacks Iranian vessels and in this way undermines the security and safety of waterways,” he added.

Claims Iran knew about attack on Saudi oil pipeline are false

Asked about US allegations that Iran had a role in an attack on a Saudi oil pipeline, Baghaei said, “The Americans are producing false reports at no cost.”

He warned that actors outside the region were seeking to increase tensions among regional countries through fabricated reports and false allegations, saying Islamic and regional countries should remain vigilant.

“The allegations raised by the Americans are categorically rejected,” he said.

Austria’s refusal to issue visa to Iran nuclear chief ‘absolutely unjustified’

Baghaei also criticized Austria for not issuing entry visas to an Iranian delegation headed by Atomic Energy Organization of Iran chief Mohammad Eslami for participation in the IAEA General Conference.

“The action by the Austrian government, as the host state, is absolutely unjustified,” Baghaei said.

“The Austrian government was obligated under its commitments to issue visas to the Iranian delegation. We clearly communicated our protest to the Austrian government, and its chargé d’affaires was summoned to the Foreign Ministry, where our objection was conveyed.”

Baghaei described the episode as another example of what he called contradictions in Western policies.

“It is contradiction upon contradiction,” he said. “On the one hand, they accuse a country, issue resolutions and prepare inaccurate reports, and then they deprive that country’s representatives of the opportunity to attend and defend themselves.”

“The war they have launched has not been only a military war. It is also being waged in the diplomatic and legal arenas, with the aim of preventing Iran’s voice from reaching other countries. We will use all available tools to ensure that this objective is not achieved.” Baghaei added.

Addressing Austria’s explanation that it had acted under US pressure or at Washington’s request, Baghaei said such an argument did not absolve Vienna of its responsibilities.

“If the Austrian government tells us that it acted under US pressure or at Washington’s request — and it is clear to us that there was US pressure — that in no way removes the responsibility of the host government,” he said.

“Any government hosting international organizations and meetings should, above all, safeguard its own credibility and standing and should not allow US pressure to cause it to incur international responsibility by failing to fulfill its obligations.” Baghaei added.

Foreign policy decisions cannot be based on oil prices alone

Asked about the planned Oman meeting and criticism of the Foreign Ministry for pursuing the initiative at a time of rising oil prices, Baghaei said foreign policy and national security decisions are not based on a single factor.

“Everyone knows that decision-making on foreign policy and national security matters is neither one-dimensional nor based on one single component,” he said.

“One cannot make decisions on highly sensitive and complex national security issues solely on the basis of one factor. For example, if oil prices rise today, that alone cannot determine whether a particular decision should or should not be taken.” he added.

Baghaei said Iran should not question its own “logical and forward-looking” actions because of what he called ill-considered behavior or breaches of commitments by others.

“Iran and Oman, as two coastal states, reached an understanding on an issue that exclusively concerns them,” he said. “They agreed on a text and then sought, as part of a responsible and forward-looking approach, to present that understanding at a meeting involving regional countries. In my view, this reflects the wisdom of the decision-makers.” the spokesperson stated.

Baghaei said the understanding between Iran and Oman concerned the designation of safe maritime routes and had been reached after weeks of negotiations between the two coastal states, with their sovereign rights taken into account.

“The plan was simply to present this issue at the meeting,” he said.

“This was an opportunity provided by Iran and Oman, and regional countries were expected to recognize and appreciate such opportunities.”

“If they genuinely believe that we, as permanent neighbors, despite all the issues and the legitimate grievances we have regarding the conduct of some of these countries, should sit together and discuss establishing a secure region free from the interference of destructive external actors, then this was a very good opportunity.” he added.

“I do not think any responsible party could accept that such an opportunity should be lost, whether because of influence by actors outside the region or because of excuses that genuinely have nothing to do with Iran.” Baghaei added.

Saudi Arabia asked for regional meeting to be postponed

Addressing reports about Saudi Arabia’s role in the matter, Baghaei confirmed that Riyadh had asked for the meeting not to be held for the time being.

“The report that has been circulated is correct. Saudi Arabia requested that the meeting not be held for now,” he said.

Baghaei said attempts to attribute developments between Saudi Arabia and Yemen to Iran amounted to “giving the wrong address.”

“Problems are not solved by giving the wrong address,” he said. “The problems in Yemen have deep and longstanding roots.” he added.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has always said, and has tried and demonstrated in practice, that it is prepared to help resolve issues.” Baghaei stated.

He said Iran had encouraged the parties to use a roadmap they themselves had agreed upon as the basis for dialogue.

“We have said that the roadmap you yourselves agreed upon — in which we had no role or involvement — should serve as the basis for your talks to resolve the issue,” he said.

“We know very well that continued war in the region among Islamic countries has only one winner, and that winner is none other than the Israeli regime, which seeks the continuation of tension and insecurity in our region and among Islamic countries.” he added.

As for next steps, Baghaei said the understanding between Iran and Oman, as two coastal states, had been finalized.

“In consultation with Oman, we will decide on the next step and on how this understanding should be announced or registered, and information will be provided accordingly,” he said.

‘Iran cannot be isolated’

Asked about US efforts to isolate Iran internationally and Tehran’s active participation in the BRICS Summit despite those efforts, Baghaei said, “Iran cannot be isolated.”

“A country that defends itself earns the admiration and praise of all countries, even if some do not express it because of considerations involving the United States,” he said.

“Such a country does not become isolated. On the contrary, look at the state of America’s credibility.”

Baghaei said the United States had committed a “criminal mistake” by attacking Iran and cooperating with what he called a genocidal regime.

“The United States committed a very grave crime by attacking the Islamic Republic of Iran and joining forces with a genocidal regime, and it continues to become further entangled in this course,” he said.

According to Baghaei, the international community, including countries in the region, had recognized that US actions were undermining international norms that are essential to the continuation of international peace and security.

He accused Washington of turning the United Nations into a tool, reducing the International Atomic Energy Agency to a political instrument and violating one of the most fundamental principles of the UN Charter — the prohibition on the use of force.

“In such circumstances, countries use every opportunity, including multilateral arrangements such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS, both to demonstrate their opposition to this approach and trajectory and to devise ways of dealing with its consequences,” he said.

Baghaei also pointed to US allies.

“Consider America’s allies as well — Canada, Europe and all the countries that once believed that whatever the United States did as the leader of the free world was in their interests,” he said.

“We now see that these countries, too, have concluded that they need to find ways to restrain America’s confrontational and destructive unilateralism.” he added.

US underwater vehicle was captured as war booty

Asked whether the United States had held any consultations or negotiations with Iran over the return of a US underwater vehicle captured by Iran, and whether the issue was being pursued through diplomatic channels, Baghaei rejected the characterization that the vehicle had merely been seized.

“It was not seized; it was captured as war booty,” Baghaei said, adding: “And war booty is lawful.”

More to follow.