Iran's foreign ministry on Monday branded the United States a "law-breaking" country, rejecting any prospect of talks with Washington after US President Donald Trump warned he would again bomb Iran if it resumes nuclear activities.
Trump’s public remarks amounted to an admission of “a criminal and illegal act” that only reinforced America’s image as a violator of international law, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghaei said during his weekly briefing.
“It will be clear to the international community and to the Iranian nation that the United States is a law-breaking country,” Baghaei added. “We have no plan for negotiations.”
The spokesman was speaking a day after Trump told at a ceremony marking the 250th anniversary of the US Navy at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia that he would not wait so long next time to strike Iranian nuclear facilities.
“We’ll have to take care of that too if they do,” Trump said, referring to Tehran’s potential resumption of nuclear activity. “You want to do that, it’s fine, but we’re going to take care of that and we’re not going to wait so long,” he told sailors gathered at the base.
Tehran faults IAEA report
A recent report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and its subsequent use by the United States and three European countries -- Britain, France, and Germany -- created a pretext for further attacks, Baghaei said.
The IAEA, according to the spokesman, should have condemned the US and Israeli strikes on nuclear sites. “The report enabled the US and the European trio to exploit the situation to their advantage.”
Iran announced Sunday that its Cairo agreement with the IAEA for limited cooperation was no longer valid.
Tehran was now focused on assessing the consequences of Western actions and that no active inspections were taking place inside Iran, said the Iranian diplomat. “The Cairo arrangement is no longer functional or enforceable,” he added.
Iran lashes out at European governments
Baghaei accused the three European powers of acting irresponsibly and using the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action’s (JCPOA) dispute mechanism to impose Washington’s demands.
“All three conditions set by the Europeans were unreasonable,” he said, adding that Iran nonetheless agreed to engage the IAEA “based on safeguard commitments.”
The understanding reached with the agency, as put by Baghaei, had initially been welcomed in Europe but was later rejected under US pressure. “The Europeans could not prove themselves as mature and independent negotiating parties.”
On Gaza, detainees, and diplomacy
Turning to regional issues, Baghaei said Iran welcomed “any initiative that can stop the genocide in Gaza and enable humanitarian assistance.”
He also confirmed ongoing diplomatic efforts for the release of Iranian national Mahdieh Esfandiari and two French citizens detained in Iran.
Baghaei concluded by saying Iran would never “plead for negotiations.” “Diplomacy is a two-way process… We will use it only when we determine it serves our national interests.”
