Tehran: Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei announced that the bilateral discussions with Oman concerning the management of shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz have been constructive and beneficial, emphasizing that these discussions are unrelated to the United States.
According to Islamic Republic News Agency, during a weekly press conference in Tehran, Baqaei clarified that the talks between Iran and Oman are exclusively between the two neighboring countries. The primary objective of these negotiations is to establish mechanisms for safe shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, while respecting Iran's sovereign rights and national interests. He reiterated that the discussions have no connection with the United States.
Baqaei further stated that the Strait of Hormuz remains closed due to what he described as aggressive actions by the U.S., which have created insecurity in the region. He confirmed that there have been no changes in the status of the strait.
Responding to a joint statement from the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council and Jordan, which mentioned Iran's reprisal attacks, Baqaei described their comments as a distortion of reality. He urged these countries to condemn the United States for violating the memorandum of understanding (MoU).
Baqaei expressed concern over some regional countries aligning themselves with U.S. military aggression against Iran and called on them to reconsider their stance. He urged regional countries to prevent the U.S. from misusing their lands and to stop political posturing.
In reference to Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi's meeting with his Chinese counterpart at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, Baqaei described China as Iran's strategic partner. He stated that the two countries share mutual interests and common concerns about regional and global peace and security, particularly regarding the destructive unilateralism of the United States.
Additionally, Baqaei condemned Britain's decision to classify the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) as a threat to its national security. He described this action as a political maneuver that violates international law and aims to exert pressure on Iran. Baqaei highlighted the IRGC's role in defending Iran and combating Daesh (ISIS) terrorism, asserting that such labeling lacks any legal basis and affirmed that Iran would take necessary measures to counter this unjust British action.