SAEDNEWS: Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ismaeil Baqaei, said that the expansion of transport routes should in no way contradict the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the countries.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismaeil Baqaei says that the expansion of transport routes in the Southern Caucasus region must not lead to changes in recognized borders.
During his weekly press briefing on Monday, Baqaei emphasized that Iran’s official position on geopolitical borders in the region remains unchanged.
In a response to a question on developments in the southern Caucasus, he said that two major issues are currently under consideration in that region, the first of which is the peaceful resolution of disputes between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia.
Iran consistently emphasizes the urgency of this matter and the importance of signing an agreement, believing that it will contribute to regional stability, he noted, adding that Iran encourages Armenia to follow up on the issue seriously.
As to the transit routes, Baqaei said that Iran attaches importance to the economic growth and the expansion of economic cooperation among countries.
The expansion of transport routes should in no way contradict the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the countries, nor should it result in any alteration of the region’s geopolitics or its recognized borders, the spokesperson.
Baqaei also addressed the issue of external actors entering regional developments, noting that Iran has explicitly declared that such an involvement is not beneficial for the region’s security and development.
He expressed satisfaction that rumors regarding the participation of certain extra-regional parties in processes related to Azerbaijan have been refuted by various actors.
Tehran is closely monitoring this issue as it relates to the country’s national interests, he said.
Europe lacks authority to trigger “snapback”
Baqaei said that the European parties to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal lack the authority to trigger the so-called “snapback” mechanism that would reinstate sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
Iran is opposed to the mechanism and has clearly declared its position on various occasions including during the talks, which were held with the European troika – namely France, Germany, and Britain – in Istanbul on Friday, he said.
The European parties have long sought to take advantage of a specific point or issue within Resolution 2231, which endorsed the 2015 deal, as a negotiating tool for exerting pressure, he said.
Any misuse of the mechanism by Europe would be met with a proper reaction from Iran, said Baqaei.
He advised the other sides to be aware of the risks associated with misusing the procedures outlined in Resolution 2231 and to refrain from further complicating the issue.
Consequences of the possible action would undoubtedly fall upon the European parties and the Israeli regime, he noted.
Israel backs anti-Iran terrorist groups
The spokesperson also touched upon the Saturday terrorist act in Iran’s southeastern city of Zahedan, where gunmen detonated a grenade as they tried to attack the provincial judiciary department, killing six people and injuring 22 others.
That was a highly blatant terrorist act and unfortunately has a precedent, Baqaei said.
There is no doubt that the Israeli regime supports anti-Iranian terrorist groups, sponsors them, and provides them with various forms of assistance in order to create insecurity in Iran, he further said.
U.S. UNESCO withdrawal
Baqaei hit out at the United States’ announcement of its withdrawal from the U.N. cultural agency, UNESCO, saying that the pullout is a clear testament to the dominance of a unilateral approach in Washington’s policies.
What is particularly disturbing is the U.S. citing UNESCO’s support for Palestine, which comes as the horrific genocide continues in Gaza, the spokesperson said.
“Such an action will only embolden the Zionist regime and encourage it to carry out further massacres in the occupied Palestinian territories. There is no justification for this move,” he stressed.
New cooperation framework with I.A.E.A.
According to the spokesperson, Iran is working on defining a new framework for cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (I.A.E.A.), taking into account Parliament’s binding decision on suspending cooperation with the agency following Israeli and U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites last month.
An I.A.E.A. official is expected to visit Iran within the next two weeks for discussions that will cover the technical aspects of issues related to Iran’s nuclear program, said Baqaei.
