Avash News: Esmaeil Baghaei, speaking at his weekly press briefing, stated that as long as there are excessive demands and expectations, negotiations and achieving mutual understanding remain impossible.
“Despite the deal that was apparently reached last week in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, we are still witnessing the continuation of killings by the Zionist regime in Gaza and the West Bank. The ceasefire has been violated several times so far,” he said, adding that the Rafah crossing remains closed. “The guarantors of the Gaza ceasefire, particularly the U.S., are responsible for the continuation of the Zionist regime’s crimes in the region due to their inaction.”
E3’s action regarding the snapback has created legal chaos in the UNSC
Baghaei, in another part of his remarks, said that “we should regard the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 as something that ended on October 25, and the UNSC must act accordingly.” He added, “We know that the move by the three European countries has caused legal chaos within the UNSC, but we are not responsible for that—the responsibility lies with those three European nations.”
He noted that the majority of the international community opposes the approach of the U.S. and some European countries in misusing international mechanisms.
Cooperation with Russia will continue within existing frameworks
Reacting to remarks by the Russian foreign minister—who said Moscow sees no limits to military and technical cooperation with Iran and is ready to provide defensive systems—Baghaei stated that “the process of Iran–Russia cooperation is expanding in all aspects. We have several fundamental agreements with Russia covering various areas, including defense cooperation.”
Presence in Sharm El-Sheikh was not beneficial for Us
Baghaei explained that decisions regarding participation in diplomatic processes or events at this level require thorough assessments by the Foreign Ministry and related entities. Expert opinions were collected and reviewed by higher authorities, and finally, it was concluded that participation in such an event would not benefit the country or serve national interests.
The IAEA must maintain its independence and avoid political influence
Regarding the remarks made by Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, on Iran’s nuclear program, Baghaei said, “We have always emphasized that the IAEA must act within its professional mandate and avoid the political biases of certain member states.” He added that the agency must maintain its independent character and refrain from being influenced by the excessive demands and pressures of the U.S. and certain European countries.
We cannot claim that we are on the verge of a negotiation process
Baghaei also responded to a question about recent comments by Steve Witkoff, who claimed the U.S. had received calls from Iran. He said, “Contacts have been made between the two sides through mediators over the past few days, and messages have been exchanged. However, we cannot claim that we are on the verge of a negotiation process.”
No decision yet on participation in Gaza reconstruction meeting
The senior diplomat said, “We have not yet reached a conclusion. As we mentioned in a statement on October 6, we emphasize the necessity of ending the genocide in Gaza and will spare no effort to help the people of Gaza.”
As long as there are excessive demands, negotiations are impossible
Addressing reports that Egypt has become a new mediator between Iran and the U.S., Baghaei said that negotiations will only take place when both sides conclude that their stances and rights are respected and their concerns are considered on equal terms. “We are not there yet, and as long as excessive expectations and demands persist, reaching an agreement will remain impossible.”
