(Web Desk) – Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei has said that “unreasonable demands” from the United States are unacceptable, warning that if war is imposed on Iran, it would respond with full force.
Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, Baghaei said diplomacy also has its own principles, adding that Iran has always prioritised protecting its national interests and its people.
He, however, said that wherever there is an opportunity for diplomacy, Iran would also make use of it.
He said Iran had sent its response to the proposal of US President Donald Trump through Pakistan a day earlier. According to Baghaei, Iran’s reply to the American proposal was “balanced.”
He said Pakistan was playing a professional mediatory role, while Tehran had responded to Washington’s proposals keeping regional interests in mind. Iran also informed China that American actions could create instability and lead to regional security concerns.
Baghaei said Iran had presented the US with a fair and responsible proposal aimed at ending the war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran had called for an end to the conflict, the lifting of sanctions and the restoration of maritime routes, he continued.
He added that Iranian frozen assets had been blocked illegally due to American pressure, saying the removal of restrictions on those assets was also among Tehran’s demands.
Baghaei urged European countries to avoid interfering in the Strait of Hormuz, while also warning them not to succumb to pressure from the US and Israel. The war was not only immoral but also illegal, he stated.
He warned that any intervention in the Strait of Hormuz or the Persian Gulf could further complicate the situation and lead to higher global energy prices.
Earlier, according to a foreign news agency, Iranian officials said it would be “better” if President Trump was dissatisfied with Tehran’s response, adding that Trump’s reaction held no importance for Iran. Officials said the negotiating team had been instructed to put forward proposals aimed at protecting the interests of the Iranian nation during talks.
The remarks came after Trump wrote on social media that he had reviewed the response from Iran’s “so-called representatives” and found it “completely unacceptable.”
Read also: Trump calls Iran's response to US peace proposal 'unacceptable'
President Donald Trump on Sunday rejected Iran's response to a US proposal for peace talks, dashing hopes for an imminent end to the 10-week-old conflict that has caused widespread damage in Iran and Lebanon, paralysed maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and driven up global energy prices.