As part of those efforts, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi took a regional tour that began with a trip to Lebanon, the spokesman said on Monday during his weekly press briefing in Tehran.
He added that the foreign minister also had phone conversations with officials in the region and elsewhere to pursue Iran’s diplomatic efforts.
The top diplomat held “good negotiations” aimed at preventing the escalation of tensions, while he sought to send Iran’s message that it intends to develop and improve ties with its neighbors, Baghaei said.
Considering the current conditions in the region, Iran has sent a clear message by fulfilling its humane, moral and legal duty to shoulder the responsibility of establishing and promoting regional peace and stability, and bringing an end to the Zionist regime’s evil acts, the spokesman further said.
He also noted that Russia and China, as two key members of the UN Security Council, can also play a significant role in the de-escalation of tensions, and are strongly opposed to the Israeli regime’s stance.
Regional peace, security
Baghaei told IRNA’s correspondent that Tehran does not exclude any country from its regional diplomatic efforts, emphasizing that peace is a collective responsibility, because peace and security should be safeguarded by regional states. “They themselves must show their willingness to this end,” he said.
He went on to say that despite differences with certain neighboring states, Iran prioritizes dialogue to maintain peace, and that Iranian officials would be visiting Kuwait and Bahrain to pursue this objective.
Iran’s trio islands
He also pointed to the renewed claims around the three Iranian islands of Abu Musa, the Greater Tunb, and the Lesser Tunb in the Persian Gulf, expressing regret that the issue is being raised when the region should be focused on dealing with the Israeli regime.
Iran’s stance on its sovereignty and territorial integrity is clear when it comes to negotiating with its partners and friends, he said, adding that Tehran has already issued protest notes on the matter.
Iran-Turkiye ties
Baghaei noted that the relationship between Iran and Turkiye, as two major countries and regional powers in the Islamic world, is very distinguished, and that the recent visit by the Turkish foreign minister to Tehran provided a good opportunity.
Both countries are committed and working together to stop the Israeli aggressions against Gaza and Lebanon, he said.
Iran-Hamas relationship
He also said the Iranian authorities’ interactions with Hamas officials also demonstrated that Hamas is alive.
Israel’s threats against Iran’s nuclear sites
Baghaei said that in protest to Israeli threats against Iran’s nuclear, the Islamic Republic has presented a letter to the International Atomic Energy Agency, adding that the country will pursue the issue at other levels as well.
“Our message is clear,” Baghaei said, adding that Iran has declared over and over that it will seriously respond to any evil act from the Israeli regime.
And it is Iran that will decide on the form of its response, he asserted.
The regional countries are now mature enough to understand that they themselves are responsible for bringing about peace and security to the region, he said, stressing that the aftermath of any “insecurity will affect all regional countries.”
Regional countries will not let their soils be used against any other states in the region, the spokesman underlined.
US sanctions on Iran
The recently-imposed sanctions by the US and Europe against the Iranian airlines will change nothing, he said.
“Such bans will deprive people of their basic rights.”
US-Iran exchange of message
Elsewhere in his press conference, the spokesman said that the exchange of messages between Iran and the US via Oman, which focused on the nuclear issue, has been halted due to the current regional conditions.
He added, however, that the exchange of messages between Tehran and Washington has continued through other channels, the most important of which is the Swiss Embassy in Tehran.
BRICS summit
On the upcoming BRICS summit, which is set to be held in Russia this week, the Iranian diplomat said that Russia is one of the founding members of the BRICS and plays a key role in developments regarding the bloc.
Iran welcomes any initiative, especially from its friends, which will help stop Israel’s warmongering, Baghaei said.
“We think that the first necessary step for the region is to halt the war in Gaza and Lebanon,” he noted, adding that Iran will continue to pursue, within the framework of international law, the rights of the Lebanese and Palestinian people, considering it as a moral duty of the Islamic Republic and other regional countries.
Cultural ties with Turkiye
On insulting comments made by the head of a Turkish media outlet, Baghaei said that the issue was resolved through negotiations between Iran’s Culture Minister Abbas Saleh Shariati and Turkish officials.
“Cultural relations remain established between the two countries and are in their best condition,” the spokesman said.
Iran-Turkiye cooperation
Cooperation on border security and counterterrorism has always been a top priority in ties between Iran and Turkiye, Baghaei said.
He added that the issue was also discussed by Iranian and Turkish foreign ministers during Araghchi’s visit to Turkiye on October 18-19.
Tehran also continues negotiations with Ankara within the framework of the Astana process which is aimed at resolving the conflict in Syria, the spokesman further said.
Ties with other countries
Baghaei said that the trips by FM Araghchi in the past two weeks focused on regional developments and coordinating efforts to stop Israeli atrocities in Gaza and Lebanon.
At the same time, bilateral issues including economic cooperation were discussed as well, the spokesman said, adding that the recent diplomatic negotiations were not limited to regional countries, with Egypt being an example.
Iran’s response to Israel
Baghaei said Iran has made it clear in talks with UN officials and other parties that both of its operations against Israel – which were conducted in April and October this year – were within the Islamic Republic’s right to legitimate defense and were in response to the regime’s actions.
He also emphasized that Iran will continue efforts to thwart Israeli evil by using all available information and most importantly relying on the capabilities of Iranian security and military forces.
On reports of intelligence being leaked about a possible Israeli attack on Iran, the spokesman said that he makes no comment, but added, “What is certain is that Iran will give a decisive response to any evil acts by the Zionist regime.”
Iran’s water rights from Hirmand
Iranian officials are seeking the fulfillment of the country’s water rights from Hirmand, Baghaei said.
He added that the issue is being followed up by Iran’s special presidential envoy to Afghanistan.
3+3 regional conference in Istanbul, Turkiye
Iran is one of the influential countries in the 3+3 regional conference in which Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Armenia, and Russia, and Georgia are members, he said.
He underlined that through cooperation between the member states, the region will have a secure and stable Caucasus.
Referring to the final document of the 3+3 regional conference in Turkish Istanbul city, Baghaei said it focuses on the need to increase interactions between the Caucasus members.
The third meeting of the 3+3 South Caucasus Regional Cooperation Platform was held in Istanbul on October 18.
Stability in Afghanistan
Iran’s foreign policy on continuing efforts to establish stability in Afghanistan has not changed, the spokesman stressed.
During the past three years, the Islamic Republic has made all-out efforts to help remove common concerns and ensure stability and security in the neighboring country through bilateral interactions, he said.
Issue of Syria
About the security in Syria, Baghaei said it is a common concern for Iran and Turkiye.
The spokesman referred to effective mechanisms as proper ways to weaken terrorism and strengthen the Syrian government.
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