The press conference of "Esmail Baghaei", the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, was held on the evening of Sunday, January 18th.
At the beginning of the meeting, Baghaei briefly described some of the recent developments in Iran's foreign political sphere and then answered reporters' questions.
"According to the principle of international law, any action to commit crimes of international law must be held accountable," Baghaei said of the Iranian Foreign Ministry's actions to hold US President Donald Trump accountable for his crimes against Iran.
He added: These actions are in charge of the international government, and we are facing governments in international relations. Any non-international action in this regard is the responsibility of the government and must be held accountable. The State Department, in cooperation with the competent bodies, has documented these actions and filed a lawsuit in international institutions for the actions of the United States over the past few decades. The Arbitration Court of Iran and the United States also has a duty to investigate these issues. In some cases, US actions have led to the testimony of American citizens, including the downing of a passenger plane. During these 20 years, we have witnessed criminal acts. If we want to collect the harms of sanctions, it includes a long list, which is a crime against humanity. The martyrdom of Sardar Soleimani was a terrorist act. The crimes of the United States and the Zionist regime during the 12-day war are also literally a crime. It is the duty of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to follow up on these issues before the domestic and international courts. It is the duty of the State Department to find the basis of competence in international courts, which we pursue seriously. Part of this must be done by the judiciary, which is well done. Part of the work is on the Vice President for Legal Affairs.
Regarding the Wall Street Journal's claim that "Araghchi has rejected Witkoff's invitation to meet at the Davos summit," the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said: "The media have interpretations based on their political and intellectual views." This is also the speculation of the media.
Asked about the escalation of tensions between Iran and the United States, he said: "The United States is responsible for escalating tensions with Iran." It is not Iran that has marched from the Persian Gulf to the US borders or interferes in the internal affairs of the United States. It is the United States that interferes in the affairs of Iran and the region. The United States also means dictation of diplomacy. The United States is a party seeking tension. What we should do to dissuade any aggressor from thinking of encroaching on Iran's safe space is that we are so strong that we will break the clutches of any aggressor and do not rent the slightest attack on Iran.
Regarding the hostile positions of the Europeans towards Iran, Baghaei said: "These positions are not acceptable and justified. These positions are taken by deliberately ignoring the existing realities that peaceful rallies were violently rampant by terrorist agents. their human rights claims are also invalid; They did not condemn the Zionist regime by ignoring the genocide in Gaza. Britain and Germany specifically supported this genocide. Therefore, the claim of compassion for the human rights of the Iranian people is a clear lie. If they were honest, they would lift the sanctions that harm patients. Europe, by blindly following the United States and the Zionist regime, deprives itself of an effective and constructive actor in international affairs.
Regarding the Wall Street Journal article on the disintegration of Iran, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said: "This issue has also been raised by the officials of the Zionist regime and the United States. There is no doubt in their intention. Our Iran is like a thorn in their side. They have tried this experiment many times and reached the same result. Certainly, the Iranian people are more rooted than to be shaken and weak with such dreams; This dream will never come true. What they are considering is nothing but the weakening and collapse of Iran, which will never be achieved with the efforts of the Iranian people.
"Our relationship with Denmark has always been based on mutual respect," he said of Denmark's anti-Iranian stance. It is questionable for us that Denmark took one of the sharpest positions against Iran. About Greenland, our position is clear. We have always stressed the need to respect Danish sovereignty. The issue of the US-European dispute should not be an excuse for some European countries to reconcile relations with Iran, wanting to repair that gap or send pleasant messages to the United States.
Regarding the cooperation between Iran and the IAEA, Baghaei said: "I do not know what consultations the IAEA Director General has had with the United States. Our relationship with the agency is clear. There are calls in this context. Our representative in Vienna regulates relations with. Some time ago, part of our facility that was not damaged was normally inspected. Our relationship is normal.
Regarding Trump's claim to stop the executions in Iran, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said: "We value human lives very much. What is clear is that our judicial process is very fair, accurate and time consuming. It is not easy to decide on something as important as an immediate decision. For us, it is also questionable who the parties that transmit such information to the international level are and how irresponsibly they create such atmosphere against Iran. This is an example of the forgery that was produced and fed to the international community, and countries took a stand based on these currents that had no real basis.
In response to a question about the number of victims, he said: "Statistics about the victims should be announced by the competent authorities."
Regarding the foreign role in the events in Iran, Baqaei said: It is clear to us that the United States and the Zionist regime had a direct role in these events and their positions were clear. Security authorities can better report on the role of other countries.
In response to ISNA, the spokesman of the Iranian Foreign Ministry said about Argentina's hostile action in putting the name of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in its so-called "terrorist" list: There is no international or legal basis for such behavior, but unfortunately some countries have already done so. This action will definitely be met with a reaction from the applicant from Iran.
The senior Iranian diplomat also said about the case of "Mahdieh Esfandiari": "Her trial started on Tuesday and continued on Wednesday and Thursday."\ What the media said was a request for punishment. She did not commit any crime except opposing genocide and the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people. We will have to wait for what France will finally give them. Since she did not commit a crime, she should not have been detained. We hope to see their release.
Regarding the news of the closure of some foreign embassies in Iran, Baghaei said: "We did not have a closure. Internet outages have created problems for embassies and concerns have been raised due to recent events. Some diplomatic missions temporarily removed some people. These numbers are exaggerated. No embassies have been closed and they continue to operate normally. Obviously, if some people leave, their work will be disrupted. We hope that the normal process of embassies will continue.
Regarding Witkoff's recent remarks on Iran, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said: "The statement that diplomacy is a good thing can not be criticized, but we should look at the behaviors. We were committed to diplomacy and we were attacked in the middle of the negotiations. The claim that we prefer diplomacy must be shown. In practice, we have shown what the limits of negotiations are, negotiations are meaningful in which the two sides adhere to the results and accept that the parties have rights and duties. One-sided negotiation does not work. On the nuclear issue, we have a framework and we can not create it from the beginning. Article 4 of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, which recognizes the right to use peaceful nuclear energy, cannot be ignored. Iran's insistence on the use of peaceful nuclear energy is a right enshrined in the Non-Proliferation Treaty. On defense issues, we do not think that any responsible country that values the security of its people is willing to be flexible about the capabilities of self-defense. The term proxy is also completely deviant. Iran has nothing as a proxy. Those in the region who strive to achieve their rights have an independent personality and strive for what is unjustly taken from them. The root of the problem must be addressed; The occupation of the Zionist regime is the main root in the region.
Regarding the possibility of a dialogue between Araghchi and Witkoff, he said: "We have an official channel between Iran and the United States, and that office is the protection of US interests in Iran, which is the Swiss embassy and for us is the Pakistani embassy in the United States. In addition, the other parties tried to act as a channel between the two sides, and it is natural that in the current situation, they will use their efforts and exchange messages. The Witkoff-Araqchi channel also remains in place and can be used whenever necessary.
Regarding the news that Germany's invitation to attend the Munich conference was canceled, Baghaei said: "This action, which was apparently carried out under pressure from the German Foreign Ministry, shows the fact that the parties who constantly talk about dialogue, freedom of speech and interaction can not bear to hear the words of a foreign minister. Rather than depriving us, they both questioned the credibility of this platform and this position, and showed how low their tolerance to hear dissenting views is.
"There is no need for our warning," said the senior Iranian diplomat about the news about the movements of US forces in Iraq and Tehran's warning to Baghdad in this regard. He added: The countries of the region are also well aware of their obligations and know that according to an indisputable legal and political principle, no country is allowed to allow its territory to act wrongly.International law should be applied to third countries. We have always mentioned the responsibilities of neighboring governments. We also saw the emphasis of the Iraqi Foreign Minister on the good neighborliness and solidarity of the security of Iran and Iraq in today's press conference. We are happy to see a regional consensus to protect stability in the West Asian region.
Regarding the terrorist elements on the Iranian-Iraqi border, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said: "The effectiveness of any understanding in the action stage must be clarified. We have a secure understanding with Iraq, most of which is cooperation to protect the borders. To ensure its implementation, we have continuous contacts with the Iraqi authorities and the Kurdistan Region. Iraq's foreign minister is scheduled to meet with other officials. Including the secretary of the Council of National Security. One of the issues raised is the effective confrontation with terrorist movements.
"We saw this Al-Jazeera report," he said of the Zionist campaign against Iran in cyberspace, which was published in the form of a report in Al-Jazeera.
Baghaei added: This is not a new topic. From the beginning of the developments, we have seen that the Western media follow a false news line about Iran. This research report is one of the clear examples of how the accounts belonging to the Zionist regime and the United States publish fake content about the developments in Iran. This makes our mission heavier to bring the reality to the world.
Regarding the effects of the abduction of the President of Venezuela by the US on the world, Baghaei said: "This action was contrary to the basic principles of the UN Charter. In addition, an immunity official was abducted. This is not compatible with any logic. It was a message to the whole world, the sovereignty of governments, Europe and Greland and all countries; Of course, if they do not want to fall asleep. We always emphasize that countries must put aside indifference to such violations.
The spokesman for Iran's diplomatic service also said about the continuation of Iran-Venezuela interactions: "Our relations with Venezuela have been long-term and always based on respect and mutual interests. We never reduce the relationship between the two countries. Our relationship has been based on mutual interests and understanding, and accordingly, we are determined to continue it. We are happy that the head of the presidency expressed her clear position on the continuation of friendly relations with countries, including Iran. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the responsible agencies are following up on the economic issues.
Regarding the legal pursuit of the relationship between terrorist elements and foreign parties, he said: "We collected every document and evidence that showed the connection of terrorist elements with foreign parties and registered it with the United Nations. We continue this process. Judicial and police investigations are ongoing, and as we receive these documents, we continue to register them in international organizations. The judiciary is responsible for prosecuting these elements.
Regarding the establishment of the Gaza High Peace Council, Baghaei said: We must consider the whole issue of Palestine. While welcoming the reduction of the suffering of the Palestinian people, Iran has always warned that the so-called peace processes should not be marginalized by the right to self-determination of Palestine. This right is the most important issue that should be considered in any international initiative. The fact that the Zionist regime has declared that it does not accept it is meaningful, and it means that this regime insists on the elimination of Palestine and will not accompany any process, even the form it intended from the beginning.