SAEDNEWS: Iran Urges Europe to Respect International Law and End Sanctions
According to Saednews, In an exclusive interview with the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei commented on a meeting in Istanbul involving three European countries and four regional states, where security issues concerning the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz were discussed.
Baqaei stated that consultations among regional countries and their engagement with other nations on regional and international developments are nothing unusual. However, he emphasized that such meetings should address the underlying causes of insecurity in the region and explicitly identify the responsibility of the United States and the Zionist regime for escalating tensions and destabilizing the region, without being constrained by diplomatic sensitivities or political expediency.
Condemning what he described as the double standards of three European countries on West Asian security issues, Baqaei criticized their failure to respond to military aggression by the United States and the Zionist regime against Iran, their extensive support for the occupying and genocidal Zionist regime, and their destructive approach to Iran’s nuclear issue.
He expressed hope that regional countries would adopt an independent and responsible stance when assessing developments in the region.
Responding to claims by the three European countries that negotiations and diplomacy with Iran remain necessary, Baqaei stressed that diplomacy must not be reduced to a public relations exercise.
Baqaei said that the three European countries and the European Union had repeatedly demonstrated a lack of seriousness and independence in their approach to negotiations and diplomacy.
He added that, over the past two years, these countries had aligned themselves with the United States’ coercive policies, including efforts to activate the “snapback” mechanism and impose illegal sanctions on Iran, thereby undermining diplomatic efforts.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson noted that the Islamic Republic of Iran had consistently pursued diplomacy as a means of resolving disputes. However, military aggression by the United States and the Zionist regime against Iran had occurred during negotiation processes. He regretted that European parties had not only refrained from condemning these attacks but had also supported them, both openly and behind the scenes.
Baqaei stated that the first step toward demonstrating genuine European commitment to negotiations and diplomacy would be to adopt an independent position consistent with international law. He urged European countries to abandon coercive measures, including illegal sanctions and other provocative actions in international organizations, particularly the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
He emphasized that the Islamic Republic of Iran remained resolute in defending the interests and legitimate rights of the Iranian people, considering diplomacy an important instrument in this effort. Nevertheless, he affirmed that Iran would use all available means and resources to protect its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
