Araqchi's Visit to Oman Had Nothing to Do with Trump's Letter

TEHRAN (Defapress) - Esmail Baghaei, in a press conference this morning (Monday, March 18), stated: "I would like to extend my congratulations for the upcoming New Year and hope it will be a year full of peace and health."

We will respond decisively to any threats

In response to a question about the military attack on Yemen and the threats made by Trump against Iran, Baghaei said: "We will respond decisively to any threats against Iran's territorial integrity and national interests. Attributing the actions of the resilient Yemeni people to others is an attempt to compensate for their own defeats in recent months and to suppress solidarity with the Palestinian people. The people and government of Yemen make independent decisions in support of legitimate resistance."

Regarding the management of tensions between Iran and Turkey, he said: "The interactions between the two countries continue as usual, and both countries are aware of their bilateral relations. We believe that the existing differences regarding Syria should be managed through dialogue. Neither side wants neighborly relations to be overshadowed, so efforts to maintain bilateral relations continue."

The detained Iranian woman in France is a pro-Palestinian activist

Regarding the follow-up on the killing of two Iranian citizens and the disappearance of a woman in France, Baghaei said: "Yesterday, we learned that this woman is in the custody of the French police, but we do not know the reason. She is a pro-Palestinian activist and had apparently published content in support of the people of Gaza. Regarding the two murdered citizens, we are awaiting judicial results from France. The nature of this crime is not clear to us."

In response to a question about whether the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has cultural programs for the simultaneous occurrence of Ramadan and Nowruz, he said: "We have and will continue to have programs to honor Ramadan and Nowruz. The event held on Friday at Azadi Square in Tehran was to introduce the observance of Ramadan and welcome Nowruz. We also have various programs at the ministry level. The Foreign Minister usually hosts an Iftar dinner for the ambassadors of Islamic countries."

Freedom of expression is completely suppressed in the U.S 

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responding to the expulsion of the South African ambassador from the U.S., said: "The South African ambassador to the U.S. was an activist in the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa and one of those who played a significant role in filing a lawsuit against the Zionist regime in The Hague. The reason for his expulsion is clear. We see that when it comes to the issue of Palestine, freedom of expression is completely suppressed in the U.S., and we witness this in American universities as well. We believe this action demonstrates a disregard for fundamental human rights principles regarding freedom of expression."

Regarding the news about preventing Iranian nationals from entering the U.S., he said: "This action reflects the hostility of U.S. officials towards the Iranian people and is part of the U.S.'s provocative actions against the Iranian people."

The U.S. sees negotiations merely as a political tool for pressure

Baghaei stated: "The messages we receive from the U.S. are contradictory. While they express a desire for dialogue, they impose sanctions against us, and our oil minister, whose only crime is performing his duties, is sanctioned. These actions are inconsistent with the U.S.'s rhetoric."

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized: "Diplomatic negotiations have their protocols. You must accept that mutual interests are bilateral and view the other party with mutual respect. More importantly, you must be committed to fulfilling your obligations. The U.S. has shown inappropriate behavior in all cases and has not been loyal to its commitments, viewing dialogue merely as a political tool for pressure. As long as this situation persists, our response is clear."

Regarding the trilateral meeting between Iran, Russia, and China, Baghaei said: "We have continuous consultations with both Russia and China on bilateral, regional, and international issues. We thank Russia for its useful participation and China for its good hosting. Through a joint statement, we announced the positions of the countries, which will be the foundation of a constructive, beneficial, and ongoing process. The nuclear issue was one of the topics discussed."

Political positions of IAEA officials have no positive or constructive effect

Regarding Gharibabadi's trip to Vienna and Grossi's statements about Iran's nuclear program, Baghaei said: "Gharibabadi's dialogue with the IAEA Director-General is part of our ongoing interaction and cooperation with the IAEA. At the same time, given the increased threats against Iran's nuclear program and facilities in recent days, it is natural for us to increase our consultations and warn IAEA officials about the consequences of such threats. We have repeatedly stated that the political positions of IAEA officials, including the Director-General, will have no positive or constructive effect on Iran's relations with the IAEA."

Regarding the encroachments by armed Syrian elements into Lebanon, he said: "It is truly regrettable that the situation in the region has reached a point where we witness such confrontations between regional countries. The only beneficiary of these developments is the Zionist regime, which has no desire other than the disintegration of Syria and the weakening of regional countries. We hope that the Syrian authorities, aware of the fact that the regime exploits every opportunity to sow discord among Islamic countries, will manage these behaviors and prevent their repetition."

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, regarding China's role in the negotiations, said: "China's role in the formation of the JCPOA and in the subsequent processes has been positive and constructive. As a permanent member of the Security Council and part of the related negotiation processes, China has always played a helpful and constructive role."

We will respond to any aggression

Baghaei, regarding U.S. threats against Iran and whether this was discussed in the trilateral meeting, added: "We discuss regional and nuclear developments with our friends. In response to any threats or aggression, we will rely on our national capabilities and respond decisively."

Regarding Iran-Lebanon relations and flights, he said: "We place great value on our relationship with Lebanon. We are resolving the obstacles that have arisen in the aviation sector. We are determined to address the issues in aviation and other areas through interaction with Lebanese officials."

In response to a question from a Mehr News reporter about the annual Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva and the resolution proposed by the UK and some Western countries, Baghaei said: "The issue of human rights in Iran has been on the agenda of the Human Rights Council for a long time."

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated: "The main sponsors of the human rights issue against Iran are the UK and several European countries, and one of the sponsors is, in fact, the Zionist regime. We are determined to promote human rights and respect human dignity. At the international level, human rights issues are pursued unilaterally, focusing on specific cases, and they try to advance the Iranophobia agenda."

Iran's continuous progress in human rights standards

He continued: "Iran has been making continuous progress in terms of human rights standards. In November, a delegation from the judiciary met with officials from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights."

If the other side is serious, we will see the purposeful continuation of negotiations

In response to a question about the possibility of upgrading interactions between Iran and European parties from dialogue to negotiations, Baghaei said: "Yes, if the other parties are serious, we will see the purposeful continuation of negotiations."

Regarding Araghchi's recent interview about indirect talks with the U.S. through Oman, he said: "There have always been specific channels for our interaction with the U.S., and I mentioned that the official channel is the Swiss Office for the Protection of Interests. At the same time, some other countries have played roles in this process, but the path we take in the coming days, weeks, and months depends on decisions that will be announced by the relevant authorities."

Regarding the repeated violations of the ceasefire in Gaza, he said: "Despite the rhetoric about establishing peace in Gaza, we are witnessing repeated violations of the ceasefire in Gaza and an escalation of crimes in the West Bank. The U.S. role in this process is entirely supportive of the Zionist regime and provides cover for its impunity."

There is no reason to use the snapback mechanism against Iran

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, regarding the Security Council meeting on Iran and the political maneuvering of three European countries, said: "Merely talking about the snapback mechanism does not mean it is an easily accessible tool. Using it has consequences that will affect the parties. There is no reason to use it against Iran."

Baghaei emphasized: "It is natural for us to discuss options and paths forward with some parties. We have plans for proposals, and our basis is interaction and dialogue. The trilateral dialogue in Beijing is in line with this. Mr. Gharibabadi's trip is also part of Iran's ongoing cooperation and interaction with the IAEA."