Bahrain: Iran is reassessing the future of diplomatic negotiations aimed at ending the US-Israeli war against the country, following the latest developments and repeated ceasefire violations, says Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei.
According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Baqaei, while speaking on the sidelines of a ceremony in Tehran, mentioned that the continuation of the talks would depend on a review of the current situation after overnight events. 'We have to review it. Diplomacy and the battlefield are not separate matters; rather, they run alongside and complement each other in safeguarding Iran's interests and security,' he stated when asked about the longevity of negotiations with Washington amid ongoing ceasefire violations.
Baqaei emphasized that Iran's military and diplomatic approaches are coordinated. 'Wherever the Armed Forces deem it necessary, they respond to the enemy with authority and strength, and last night's events showed that Iran's brave Armed Forces do not hesitate in defending the country,' he asserted. He explained that the pillars of the establishment are fully coordinated in the diplomatic sphere, using diplomacy where possible and military force where necessary to defend the country.
Addressing the status of the negotiations, Baqaei remarked that 'In light of last night's developments, we must review the situation. A diplomatic process does not take place in a vacuum, and advancing any diplomatic process requires a minimum level of space in which the ongoing process can move forward.' He pointed out that Washington's 'contradictory messages,' frequent changes in positions and demands, and repeated ceasefire violations, along with Israeli breaches of the truce, have undermined the diplomatic process.
Baqaei further noted that 'Any diplomatic process is destabilized by resorting to force and illegal actions by one of the parties.' His comments followed the announcement by the US Central Command (CENTCOM) that its forces launched strikes against Iran, claiming these were in response to Iran's 'downing of a US Army Apache helicopter,' a claim Iran has rejected as false. In retaliation, the Iranian Armed Forces launched drone and missile strikes against American military bases in the region.