Speaking at his weekly press conference in Tehran, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said neighboring countries are acutely aware that insecurity directed at Iran would not remain contained.
“We believe that regional countries fully understand that any threat or act of adventurism against Iran will have repercussions for others as well,” Baghaei said. “That is why there is a collective regional effort to prevent war.”
Baghaei urged governments to remain alert to “media-driven” speculation and “third-party” manipulation aimed at inflaming tensions. He pointed to ongoing contacts between Iran and regional states, including Saudi Arabia, saying there is a shared understanding that instability would spread rapidly across borders.
His remarks came as the United States continues a significant military buildup across the Persian Gulf and surrounding areas, accompanied by repeated threats of military action by President Donald Trump. Iranian officials have responded with increasingly blunt warnings, stressing that Iran would respond forcefully to any attack.
On Sunday, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said that a new conflict would not be limited in scope. “They should know that if they start a war this time, it will be a regional war,” he said.
Israel aiming for regional fragmentation
Asked about Israel’s role in regional instability, Baghaei said Israeli officials have openly promoted the idea of a so-called “Greater Israel,” arguing that the regime’s actions point to a deliberate strategy of weakening and fragmenting neighboring states.
He cited Israel’s continued occupation of Palestinian territory, parts of Lebanon and Syria, and its involvement in attacks on multiple countries in the region in 2025, including Iran. “These facts show that the agenda of the Zionist regime is nothing less than the creation of division among Muslim nations,” he said.
Baghaei said there is a growing awareness across the Muslim world that Israel seeks regional supremacy, warning that Europe’s tolerance of Israeli actions would eventually carry consequences closer to home. “Appeasement of lawlessness and crimes will not stop at West Asia,” he said.
Talks with the United States under review
Baghaei said Iran is still evaluating the “executive details” of a possible resumption of negotiations with the United States, noting that messages have been exchanged through intermediaries and that Tehran is reviewing the framework of any diplomatic process.
“We are at the stage of reviewing and deciding on the details,” he said, adding that regional countries—unlike European governments—have played a constructive role by helping convey messages and reduce tensions.
While expressing cautious hope that diplomacy could eventually yield results, Baghaei underscored that Iran’s experience with Washington over the past decade has shaped its approach. He said past broken promises and hostile actions, including U.S. military moves earlier this year, could not be ignored.
“The principle is clear,” he said. “Diplomacy cannot be imposed through threats.”
In a CNN interview on Sunday, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi echoed that position, saying the United States still has an opportunity to reach a fair agreement with Iran, but warning that military action would be a “disaster” for the entire region. Araghchi said he remained confident that an agreement on Iran’s nuclear program was achievable if pursued seriously.
Sanctions still central issue
Baghaei rejected suggestions that Iran has shifted its focus from sanctions relief to merely averting war. “Lifting sanctions remains a core priority,” he said, describing them as unjust measures that have been imposed on the Iranian people. Military threats, he added, do not negate the central economic dimension of the dispute.
Responding to questions about President Trump’s contradictory statements—alternating between threats and calls for talks—Baghaei said Tehran’s response is to expose a pressure campaign designed to shape public opinion rather than pursue genuine diplomacy.
“If a fire is ignited, it will not be controllable,” he warned, adding that Iran would continue to counter media and political efforts to portray the region as weak in order to justify U.S. intervention in service of Israeli interests.
Fallouts of Europe’s latest anti-Iran move
Baghaei also addressed the European Union’s recent decision to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) as a “terrorist” organization, calling it illegal and politically motivated. He said Iran has summoned all EU ambassadors in Tehran and is considering further measures.
“This is the minimum response,” he said, adding that Europe has ignored the IRGC’s role in combating terrorism in the region. He accused European governments of acting to please Washington and Israel while undermining their own interests.
France, in particular, drew sharp criticism after its foreign minister suggested Iran would need to make major concessions in any talks with the United States. Baghaei dismissed the remarks as irrelevant and said Paris is playing a “historically disruptive” role in diplomatic processes.
“Iran does not accept ultimatums or artificial deadlines,” he said, responding to reports that Washington has set a time limit for negotiations.
Iran’s relations with China and Russia ‘strong’
Baghaei said Iran continues to maintain “very good” relations with Russia and China, describing them as strategic partners and responsible permanent members of the U.N. Security Council. He pointed to recent high-level visits and ongoing coordination with both countries.
He also denied reports that joint military exercises with Russia and China had been delayed, saying they would proceed as scheduled and that routine defensive drills inside Iran were continuing in line with security needs.
Throughout the briefing, Baghaei emphasized that regional diplomacy remains active and urgent, with neighboring states increasingly aligned around the view that escalation would be contagious and destructive.
“Our goal,” he said, “is to safeguard Iran’s national interests while preventing a crisis that would engulf the entire region.”
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