BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 7. Iran is using
negotiations as a means of safeguarding its interests, Iranian
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said.
Speaking at a news conference in Tehran on Sept. 7, Baghaei said
negotiations should not be viewed as inherently positive or
negative.
“Negotiations in themselves are neither good nor bad. They are
used to safeguard the country’s national security and interests,”
he said.
Baghaei said that over the past six months, Iran’s diplomatic
apparatus, in coordination with other government bodies, had
demonstrated its support for the armed forces and solidarity with
the Iranian people.
He added that the Iranian Foreign Ministry follows decisions
made by the relevant authorities and will make every effort to
implement decisions adopted at the level of the Supreme National
Security Council.
“The United States and Israel have carried out military attacks
against Iran in full view of the world, resulting in a war in the
region. This is contrary to all norms and principles of
international law,” Baghaei said.
On July 8, U.S. President Donald Trump said a ceasefire had been
violated and ordered new strikes against Iran. In response, Iran
targeted U.S. military facilities in the Persian Gulf region with
missiles and drones.
While Washington has not ruled out the possibility that Iran
could return to negotiations, disagreements over the security of
the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s nuclear program and other issues have
left the prospects for a peace process uncertain.
Commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is currently
once again almost at a standstill.
