Diplomatic gains cannot be reduced to oil prices: FM spokesperson

🔊 Diplomatic gains cannot be reduced to oil prices: FM spokesperson 📌 Tehran, IRNA – Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei has rejected criticism that announcing a joint meeting between Iran and the Persian Gulf states contributed to a decline in global oil prices, saying diplomatic decisions cannot be made based on a single factor and that the priority is to secure national interests at the appropriate time. Responding to criticism that the meeting should have been postponed because the announcement weakened pressure on Iran’s enemies, Baqaei said, “With this kind of approach, one can always argue that now is not the time for a particular diplomatic action.” ​ “You cannot make decisions in the field of diplomacy and seize opportunities based solely on one factor and one consideration; what ultimately matters to us is securing national interests at the appropriate time,” he added in his interview with national television. ​ The spokesperson said the diplomatic engagement with regional countries should be viewed in the broader context of Iran’s security and foreign-policy objectives. ​ “In such circumstances, when apparently no movement should have taken place, the fact that our diplomacy succeeds, backed by the power of the field, in bringing countries to the conclusion that the solution to common security in the region is to sit together and engage in dialogue without the presence of foreigners is not a small achievement,” Baqaei said. ​ Baqaei also rejected the description of Iran’s current situation as one of “neither war nor peace,” saying the country is actually in a state of war. ​ “We are in a state of war. The reason is clear. As long as economic sanctions and the naval blockade by the enemy continue, economic war also continues, and this constitutes war,” he said. ​ Referring to UN General Assembly Resolution 3314, Baqaei said an economic or naval blockade of a country is considered an act of aggression under international law. “Therefore, whatever we do in this situation is called defense,” he said. ​ On repeated US accusations that Iran is involved in Yemen, the spokesperson described the allegations as a recurring pattern in US policymaking, saying Washington was attempting to attribute its own mistakes and problems to others. ​ He said such an approach would not resolve the problems but would instead mislead public opinion and prevent the United States itself from finding solutions. ​ Baqaei said the wrong accusations against Iran showed that Washington’s objective was to further destabilize the situation and maintain turmoil among Muslim countries. ​ He added that Iran was ready to help facilitate dialogue and implement a roadmap agreed upon by the Yemenis and relevant parties, including Saudi Arabia, stressing that Tehran’s position was principled and based on what the parties themselves had agreed. 📲 ​