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Iranian Government Spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani expressed gratitude to countries supporting Iran against Israeli aggression, specifically thanking Türkiye, Russia, China, and Pakistan for their "clear and decisive stance."
Speaking to Al Jazeera television about Israeli attacks on Iran, Mohajerani stated: "We defend ourselves effectively, but we do not close the doors of diplomacy."
Referring to meetings held in Geneva, Switzerland, with British, French, and German foreign ministers along with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, Mohajerani said, "We want peace, and our diplomats' presence in Geneva proves this."
Mohajerani expressed appreciation for countries backing Iran against Israeli aggression, stating, "We appreciate the clear and decisive stance of Russia, China, Türkiye, and Pakistan."
The spokesperson emphasized Iran's commitment to diplomatic solutions while maintaining the right to self-defense against what Tehran characterizes as unprovoked attacks.
Mohajerani drew parallels between Israeli attacks and the US invasion of Iraq, suggesting both were based on unfounded claims. The spokesperson noted that Iran has always clearly stated it does not want nuclear weapons, while some countries repeat old excuses to justify military interventions.
"Everyone knows well that this method has been tried many times in recent years. Wasn't Iraq invaded with similar excuses? Could chemical weapons ever be found, even after years?" Mohajerani asked, referring to the absence of weapons of mass destruction found after the Iraq War.
Emphasizing that Iran's response to Israeli attacks constitutes legitimate defense, Mohajerani stated, "Iran has not started any war in the last 200 years and has avoided conflicts. We have no intention of starting a war; we consciously prevent this."
The spokesperson stressed Iran's historical preference for avoiding military confrontation while maintaining the right to respond to direct attacks on Iranian territory.
Mohajerani warned the U.S. and other Western countries against provoking Iran or making threats against the Iranian people.
"If they make a mistake, we will definitely defend ourselves and take what is rightfully ours. We hope the U.S. will not make such a mistake, but if tensions rise, our reactions will definitely increase," the spokesperson said.
The warning came amid heightened regional tensions following Israeli strikes on Iranian military and nuclear facilities, which prompted retaliatory responses from Tehran.
Despite the military exchanges, Mohajerani emphasized Iran's continued commitment to diplomatic solutions, pointing to ongoing negotiations with European partners in Geneva as evidence of Tehran's willingness to pursue peaceful resolutions.
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