Iran's foreign ministry spokesman on Monday called on regional countries and the international community to take serious action to confront what he called the ongoing threat posed by "the racist regime" of Israel to regional and global peace and stability.
Esmail Baghaei cited continued violence in Gaza and alleged violations of international humanitarian law.
The message emerged at a joint meeting between media and tourism officials hosted by the strategic council of Iran’s Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts and the media affairs department of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, according to ISNA.
Participants said tourism increasingly depends on professional narrative-building to counter negative perceptions and present Iran’s security and cultural capacity to foreign audiences.
Officials argued that media should move beyond a passive role and become an active partner in promoting tourism and related industries.
Mohammadreza Norouzpour, deputy media affairs minister, said tourism cannot gain visibility without media engagement and that effective communication requires sustained, credible storytelling.
He said developing a participatory model between media and tourism actors was essential to reposition the sector domestically and internationally.
Speaking at the meeting, Mohsen Haji Saeid, head of the tourism working group and chairman of the national association of tour guides, said restoring Iran’s image abroad – especially following the recent conflict – was now the core issue facing the tourism industry.
He criticized traditional promotional approaches and called for a comprehensive information bank to present data on safety and tourism potential.
Other speakers emphasized the role of private-sector participation, health tourism, visual content, and the use of tour guides as cultural ambassadors.
Officials also discussed leveraging major international events, such as the World Cup, to amplify Iran’s narrative.
The meeting concluded with agreement to continue the tourism working group’s activities on a permanent, issue-driven basis, aimed at strengthening media-tourism coordination and improving perceptions of Iran among domestic and international audiences.
Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein dismissed Iran’s statement, saying: “The world record in deception belongs to Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman."
"Iran has carried out deadly terrorist attacks against Israelis and Jews in the past and constantly seeks to murder Israelis and Jews around the world.”
No public evidence links Iran or any foreign element to the attack.
Israel’s response came after Iran’s foreign ministry issued a formal denunciation of the shooting at a Hanukkah gathering at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, where at least 11 people were killed and 29 wounded, according to Australian police.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei had said in a post on X on Sunday that "terror violence and mass killing shall be condemned, wherever they're committed, as unlawful and criminal."
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar earlier spoke with his Australian counterpart, Penny Wong, after the attack, which Canberra has designated a terrorist incident. Wong told Sa’ar that Australia was determined to apprehend all those involved.
Sa’ar urged Australia to take stronger measures against antisemitism, telling Wong that since October 7 there had been a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents in the country, including violent incitement online and in public spaces.
Israel’s ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon, said Israeli officials were closely watching the investigation.
“The writing was on the wall,” he told Ynet, citing a rise in antisemitic incidents and prior intelligence warnings of a high likelihood of an attack.
He said Australian authorities were examining whether an external actor may have been involved, amid a growing assessment in Israel pointing to Iran.
“From the video footage I received, it appears the terrorists studied the area. They fired from a distance and used long-barreled weapons,” Maimon said, adding that Australian investigators were still processing information.
Australian police said one suspected attacker was killed, another was in critical condition and a third may have been involved. Several suspected explosive devices were found and neutralized near the scene.
Iran has not commented on Israel’s response. Australian authorities have said their investigation is ongoing and have not publicly named any foreign state as responsible.
