Iran’s leadership is ready to confront any possible US ground operation, foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei has said, while warning Washington of severe consequences for any attempt to seize the strategic Kharg Island in southern Iran.
At a news conference in Tehran on Monday (20 July), Baghaei said: “There are people in Iran’s leadership who are counting the minutes for a possible US ground operation and are ready to welcome American troops.” According to Al Jazeera, Baghaei added: “The United States will have to bear the consequences of any reckless move, such as seizing Kharg Island.”
Asked whether the path to talks with the United States had closed, the Iranian spokesman said Tehran regards both war and diplomacy as means of protecting national interests. “I reject this binary of war or diplomacy,” he said. “Diplomacy is a means of achieving our national interests, just as war is a means.”
Baghaei said there was no ambiguity in the text of the interim memorandum of understanding signed with the United States. “The memorandum is short and contains 14 clauses,” he said. “From the outset we have said that responsibility for managing the future of the Strait of Hormuz lies with Iran. This will be taken forward through consultation with Oman and dialogue with regional countries.” He added: “The language of the agreement is completely clear, so the United States has no excuse to breach it.”
The spokesman said that even amid the ongoing conflict, US messages had reached Tehran through mediators. “We have received messages through mediators,” he said. “I do not want to go into detail, but diplomatic activity has continued in recent days, and various mediators have conveyed some proposals and ideas to us.”
Baghaei blamed the United States for the recent escalation. He said Tehran bore no hostility toward its neighbours but called on them not to allow their territory to be used for attacks against Iran. “We have said repeatedly that we have no enmity toward the countries of the region,” he warned. “But we expect them to fulfil their responsibility and not allow attacks on Iran from their territory. As long as such attacks continue, our armed forces will continue to respond.”
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report