Baghaei: We Respect the National Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity of Regional Countries

The Foreign Ministry spokesperson, in an interview with Al-Shorouk newspaper, stressed that Iran respects the sovereignty of countries.

According to Ambassador Arjan, Ismail Baqaei, the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of our country, answered the questions of this newspaper regarding the developments in the region in an exclusive conversation with the newspaper Tunsi al-Sharrooq.

Regarding the impact of the current situation on the Persian Gulf region and the global economy, Baqaei said: the aggression of the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran has been a clear violation of many standards and rules of international law. From attacks on areas and infrastructures to actions against shipping and maritime blockades, all are examples of war crimes and violations of all legal, moral and humanitarian standards. It is natural that such measures are not only aimed at Iran.

He added: When a country targets national sovereignty, trade, shipping and freedom of navigation, its consequences will affect the entire region and ultimately the economy and global trade. What we are witnessing today is the result of aggressive actions and destabilizing policies followed by the US and the Zionist regime. The experience of the past five decades has shown that pressure and threats cannot force the Iranian nation to accept illegal demands.

The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of our country said about the consultations between our country and Oman to create a new mechanism for the management of the Strait of Hormuz: Iran and Oman, as the two coastal countries of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, have a special responsibility for the security and safety of shipping in it. During the past decades, Iran has always considered itself committed to ensuring the security and safety of shipping in this region; But in recent months, this waterway and the facilities and territories of the countries in the region were used to design and implement military aggression against Iran, including attacking residential areas and martyring civilians.

He noted: It is natural that this fact cannot be ignored in the future arrangements of the strait. In the past months, Iran and Oman have continued their consultations to determine safe routes for commercial ships. We have reached an understanding on determining a temporary safe and secure route between the two countries, and some implementation details are still being pursued. Of course, a distinction should be made between "understanding between Iran and Oman regarding the safe traffic route" and "reopening or the general situation of the Strait of Hormuz". These two issues are not the same. It is natural that any stable and long-term mechanism for the management and security of the strait should be formed with the participation and agreement of the two coastal countries, i.e. Iran and Oman, taking into account their sovereignty and security considerations, and the interference of third parties should not disrupt this process.

Regarding whether the current developments can bring the neighboring countries and members of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council closer to Iran's position of opposing any foreign military presence, Baqaei said: I think the developments of recent months have contained important lessons for all countries in the region. We have always emphasized that the security of the region should be provided by the countries of the region. The experience gained in recent months showed that the military presence of foreign powers in the region is the main cause of insecurity in the region.

He emphasized: We always respect the national sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of the countries of the region. Iran has no enmity with the countries of the region and Iran's principled policy is based on good neighborliness, development of relations with the countries of the region in various dimensions and regional cooperation. We have long emphasized the necessity of forming an intra-regional security arrangement. It seems that the recent developments have provided a suitable opportunity for the countries of the region to discuss the future of the security of the Persian Gulf with a more realistic view; A future where the security of the region will be provided by the countries of the region themselves and away from the interference of extra-regional powers. This will not happen overnight; But the breath of dialogue between the countries of the region in this regard and moving towards understanding about regional mechanisms to ensure the security of the region is an important and necessary step.

In response to the question of how much Egypt can play an effective role in bringing closer the positions of Iran and its neighboring countries, the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of our country said: Egypt is an important and influential country in the Arab world and the region, and we have always emphasized the importance of Egypt's position and role in regional developments. Relations between Iran and Egypt have been growing in recent years, and contacts and consultations between the officials of the two countries, including between the foreign ministers, have been carried out continuously.

Regarding the level of readiness of our country to confront the Zionist-American coalition again in the conditions of continued hostilities between Israel and the worsening of the political and financial crisis in the United States, Baqaei said: The Islamic Republic of Iran has always shown that it has the strength and will to defend itself against any aggression and threat against its sovereignty and territorial integrity. We are determined to use all our capacities and abilities to ward off any evil from the enemies, especially now that we have the support of the practical and operational experience of three periods of epic defense.