Baqaei made the remarks during his weekly press briefing in Tehran on Monday, a day after Iran relayed its proposal through mediator Pakistan in response to an earlier American proposal aimed at ending the war launched by the United States and Israel on February 28 that came to a halt after 40 days of intense fighting under a ceasefire.
The fragile ceasefire has largely held despite sporadic clashes in the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway through which nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas supplies pass. Iran, a coastal state along the Strait of Hormuz, has maintained control over the waterway since the early days of the war as part of its self-defense measures, introducing regulations for ships passing through the Strait. Several days after the ceasefire came into force on April 8, the United States imposed a blockade on Iranian ports and ships over the country’s restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz.
On Sunday evening, US President Donald Trump described Iran’s response to his country’s peace proposal as “unacceptable.”
Reacting to Trump’s remarks, the Iranian spokesperson said that Iran’s response “consisted of reasonable and responsible demands, as well as generous proposals, not only for Iran’s national interests, but also for the good, stability, and security of the entire region and the world.”
Baqaei also held the United States and Israel responsible for disruptions to freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, saying that Washington is acting based on “one-sided views.”
“We must bear in mind that the actions of the United States and the Zionist regime over the past 70 to 80 days have disrupted freedom of navigation, and Iranian vessels have been subjected to attacks in international waters. All of these issues were supposed to be discussed and resolved within the framework of this proposed package. Unfortunately, the American side continues to insist on its one-sided views and unreasonable demands, based largely on perceptions shaped by the Zionist regime.”
Any intervention in Strait of Hormuz will complicate situation
The spokesperson said that any intervention from outside West Asia in issues related to this region and the Strait of Hormuz will further complicate the situation. He made the remark while commenting on reports that some countries, including Britain, have embarked on sending warships to the region over disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, which have caused global energy prices to soar.
Baqaei said that any country, which believes in a responsible behavior toward international peace and security as well as economic welfare of its people, should direct its pressure toward the parties that caused disruptions to safe and free navigation in West Asia. “The problem lies within the act of aggression of the US and the Zionist regime against Iran. The Strait of Hormuz was open prior to the war” that began on February 28, he added.
Iran rejects any measure that disrupts regional security
On Egypt’s move to send fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates and the possible military cooperation of the two Arab countries against Iran, Baqaei said that Iran’s principled stance rejects any measure that disrupts the security and trust in the region, regardless of the party that has taken that measure.
At the same time, he said, relations between Iran and Egypt are based on mutual respect, with foreign ministers of the two countries keeping contacts on bilateral and regional issues.
US presence is source of regional violence
Further in his presser, the spokesperson rejected allegations by US officials that Iran is a bullying power in West Asia. He said that Iran is not a bully; it rather is a “responsible power” in the region, which at the same time stands against bullying as well.
“The very presence of the US in the region, and the very presence of US military bases in the region, constitute a cycle of violence and bullying,” he noted, describing the United States as the biggest threat to international peace and security.
UAE’s expulsion of Pakistani nationals
On reports of the UAE’s pressure on Pakistan to prevent its mediation efforts between Iran and the US from coming to fruition, including the Arab country’s expulsion of Pakistani nationals, Baqaei said that Pakistan definitely proceeds with its efforts in a professional way.
“Basically, no meditator does allow professional measures to be affected by actions of third players,” he noted.
Trump’s upcoming trip to China
Baqaei said that the upcoming visit of the US president to China is an issue related to these two countries. However, on possible mediation of China between Iran and the US, the spokesperson said that Beijing is well aware of Tehran’s stance and does know that pressures on Iran is not a temporary issue, but it is part of global efforts aimed at intensifying US unilateralism.
Venezuela’s enriched uranium
On a US move to withdraw over 13.5 kilograms of enriched uranium from Venezuela, the spokesperson said that the material was pulled out of a power plant that has been inactive since 1997. In addition, he said, the move was taken based on a decision by the Venezuelan government. Iran respects that decision taken by an independent government, he added.
Iran in constant contact with Iraq and its Kurdistan region
On reports of movements by terrorist groups in Iraq, Baqaei said that Iran remains in constant contact with the central Iraqi government and the country’s Kurdistan region over border issues.
“All admit that any insecurity in the region surrounding us will have consequences for all regional countries. This consensus paves the way for helpful cooperation between regional countries, including Iran and Iraq, to thwart any mischief that could endanger the security of both countries,” he noted.
US nuclear weapons threats
On threats by the US president to use atomic weapons against Iran, which come amid Washington’s claims of its attempts to prevent Iran from attaining such weapons, Baqaei said that Trump’s remarks are part of contradictory comments and threatening rhetorics by American officials, which reveal the true nature of their stance toward the Iranian nation as well as international peace and security.
Such threats are opposed to the principles of international laws, the spokesperson said, emphasizing that the countries possessing nuclear weapons are banned from using them against other nations.
Iran knows how to defend itself in every condition, he further stressed.
Israeli military base in Iraq
The spokesperson also commented on reports of an Israeli military base that was established in Iraq for attacks against Iran during the latest war.
He said that the issue is important, which will be discussed with Iraqi officials. He also said that the history of Israel’s behavior in the region shows that the regime crosses all red lines to harm the interests of the Islamic Republic of Iran and to create disputes among regional countries.
Qatar-Iran contacts on ending war
On reports about Qatar playing a role in ending the war between Iran and the US, the spokesperson said that various countries have contacted Iran and many regional countries have serious concerns over the escalation of tensions.
Iran appreciates all these countries for their efforts aimed at de-escalation, Baqaei said. However, he added, Pakistan is the official mediator between Iran and the US, which continues its efforts.
Other countries, including Qatar that maintains good ties with both Iran and the US, present their ideas to the Iranian foreign minister whenever they deem it necessary, he noted.
No Iranian oil released into the sea
The spokesperson strongly dismissed Western media reports that Iran has released oil into the sea after its oil storage hit full capacity.
He called these reports “sheer lies,” and said Iran is seriously concerned about possible harms to the maritime environment in the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman, and the Strait of Hormuz, citing previous cases in the past years due to the US military presence and the wars it imposed on the people of the region.
No US leader has made Iranians laugh
On Trump’s latest comments that criticized his predecessors, Barack Obama and Joe Biden, for giving Iran hundreds of billions of dollars and making Iranians laugh, whom he said will not allow to happen anymore, the spokesperson said that the Iranian people have no good history of US authorities at all, during the past decades.
The US has taken every action to harm Iranians over these past decades, regardless of the fact that who was in the White House, Baqaei said, emphasizing that no American ruler has brought smiles to the Iranian people’s faces.
