Tehran: Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei reiterated that sanctions imposed on any member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) constitute pressure on all other members. During a weekly press conference on Tuesday, Baqaei emphasized the expectation that all member states of international organizations, including the SCO and BRICS, should intensify their efforts to protect their rights and preserve their sovereignty, highlighting that US lawlessness will not be confined to a single country or region.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Baqaei responded to a question concerning Tehran's reliance on technical, military, and defensive support from its SCO partners, such as Russia and China. He noted that when countries take a position on an issue, they naturally commit to its consequences.

Furthermore, the spokesperson dismissed the US claim about the recent attack on Iran's Larak Island, allegedly due to Iran's intention to lay mines. He stated that the US fabricates pretexts to justify its actions, describing the attack as a clear act of military aggression for which the US must be held accountable.

Addressing the recent visit by Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir to Tehran, Baqaei explained that the visit was part of Pakistan's efforts to prevent escalation. He mentioned that some speculation regarding the trip, including references to paragraph 13 of the Islamabad MoU, is mostly media-driven. He stressed that it was the US that violated the MoU and must now be held accountable to the international community, warning against reversing the roles of the accuser and the accused.

In response to a question about analysts' views that Iran might aim to increase the political, economic, security, and electoral costs of the war for the US, Baqaei affirmed this notion, suggesting that Iran seeks to make the US regret its actions.