Baqaei: We have no negotiations with the US; Iran-Oman talks are only about safe passage of ships in the Strait of Hormuz

Afghan Voice Agency (AVA): Esmail Baqaei, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, answered journalists' questions in his weekly press conference today, Monday.

He initially referred to the arrival of Arbaeen, saying: Arbaeen had a different color and flavor for us this year, because we sent the first pilgrim a few weeks ago. Mr. Martyr and Leader of the Martyrs of Iran; the one whose role model was Imam Hussein (AS).

America's Crimes in Qeshm and Iraq
Referring to the US attack on a family in Qeshm, Beqaei said: This time America sent us aid, aid that weighed 1,000 kilos. A bomb that was produced to destroy trenches but landed on an Iranian family on Qeshm Island.

America's crime also included Iraq, and several Iranian citizens were martyred during the US airstrike on Iraq. It is also worth mentioning the young man from Bandar Anzali, a taekwondo fighter and a freedman of the 8-year war between Iraq and Iran, who was martyred in the Caspian Sea.

Negotiations with Oman continue with seriousness
Regarding the field of diplomacy, he said: Negotiations with Oman have continued with seriousness in the past few days. Likewise, the contacts that our country's Foreign Minister had with his counterparts aimed at preventing the escalation of insecurity and securing Iran's interests.

Negotiations with Oman focused on understanding on safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz
The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said regarding the finalization of the understanding with Oman and consultations with mediators for the negotiations: In order to avoid ambiguity, it should be said with which party the negotiations are. We are not currently negotiating with the United States, and the negotiations with Oman are focused on understanding on safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

An attempt is being made to determine a path, which is usually temporary, in consultation with Oman at the earliest opportunity and based on that, to provide safety of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. These are bilateral negotiations between the two coastal states. Others can certainly appear constructive or destructive, but the matter is related to Iran and Oman, what will happen next must be decided.

The Strait of Hormuz was not closed due to a disagreement between Iran and Oman, but rather due to the US aggression on March 24 last year. As long as the naval blockade and US evil continue, and all the things that the US has violated continue, nothing special will happen in the situation in the Strait. The focus of the talks with Oman will be on the Strait of Hormuz.

America's war against Iran is a war against the entire region
In response to Tasnim's claim that America will not attack Iran with Saudi efforts, he said: It is a blessing that all countries in the region consider themselves to be participants in the future of the region. America's war against Iran is a war against the entire region. In these 5 months, we have seen with our own eyes that America's presence in the region has led to increased insecurity and instability in the region. It is natural for countries to try to prevent increased insecurity, but experience has proven that what stops the enemy is nothing but Iran's authority and deterrence.

China is concerned about insecurity in the region
Regarding China's mediation between Iran and the United States, Baqaei said: Pakistan is the mediator in the discussions related to Iran and the United States, and Qatar is also helping. We have friendly relations with China, and China shares our concerns about the escalation of America's belligerent behavior and is concerned about insecurity in the region. Chinese friends are using Jamila's efforts to prevent the situation from escalating, but it is not true that we have added a new mediator.

Araqchi is leaving for Arbaeen trip
Regarding the claim of Iran-US negotiations on Monday, he said: Today, Mr. Araqchi is leaving for Arbaeen trip and it is a personal trip. All the negotiating friends are also in Iran.

Opposition of the people of the region to the continued US military presence
The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said about the opposition of the people of the region to the continued US military presence: There are many of these cases, cases where the elites and people of the region expressed their opposition to the US military presence in their territory. The people of the region know that this is an oppressive war against Iran and a Muslim country. They know that the Iranian nation is peace-loving and seeks peaceful life with all countries in the region. They know that everything that happened, including Iran's defensive reaction, was against the source of the military aggression, not the country and people of the region. It is natural that they oppose the continued US military presence in their countries and prevent America from abusing them.

The responsibility for everything that happens in the region and beyond lies with America.
In response to the claim about Iran-Yemen relations and the opening of a new front by Iran, he said: Those who raise this are deliberately trying to distort reality. We faced the US military aggression 5 months ago on 9th of February. Did Iran open a front? From the very first days, the US and the Zionist regime used the territory of the countries of the region, did we open a front?
The issue of Yemen is related to this country itself, we have already said that the issue of Yemen must be resolved through dialogue. Linking any issue to the war against Iran is a form of evasion of responsibility. They started the problem themselves and incitement is contagious. The responsibility for everything that happens in the region and beyond lies first with America and then with those who are its accomplices.

They are aggression.

Denial of any negotiations with the US
In response to the claim that Pakistani and Qatari representatives were present in negotiations with the US, Baqai said: I am not aware of such a thing. We are not going to host a delegation in these days, nor are we going to be guests ourselves.

The crimes of the Zionist regime continue
In response to the continued attacks of the Zionist regime on the region, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said: The crimes of the Zionist regime continue, crimes continue in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon. This is not only because of the nature of the Zionist regime, but it is being carried out with the support of the US for the regime.
The responsibility of the Security Council and the UN is clear, and normalizing crimes, including genocide, is truly shameful. All Islamic countries should pay attention to the biggest issue of the Islamic world and the world, but unfortunately we see that these aggressions continue.

Relations with Venezuela have always been based on mutual respect
Regarding the summoning of the Iranian ambassador to Venezuela, he said: Our relations with Venezuela have always been based on mutual respect, and the history of relations confirms it. In relation to relations with any country, misunderstandings sometimes arise, which are explained, but they do not negatively affect the relations between two countries that have had excellent relations for a long time.

The relationship with China is based on a strategic partnership agreement
Bakaei said about Iran-China relations: Our relationship with China is a very important relationship, and in various areas we are moving forward based on a strategic partnership agreement. Whenever it is necessary to initiate new understandings for issues that require it, this will definitely be done.

All of America's actions are war crimes
Regarding the attack on a family on Iran's Qeshm Island, he said: Unfortunately, this has become America's habit. America started its war by attacking public places. The attack on the residence of our martyred leader and other great people should not distract us from the fact that all of America's actions are war crimes. But specifically, during the attack on Tehran, the Shajare Tayyiba Minab School and Lamerd Stadium were attacked, all of which were civilian places. These attacks continued throughout the war and demonstrate America’s insistence on destroying all international norms. I draw your attention to the admission by US officials that they do not take any rules into account and that this in itself is a war crime. The international community must realize that they are responsible for human rights violations. All countries are obliged to observe the laws of war. We will definitely hold the perpetrators and masters of these crimes accountable.

Ukraine’s attack on the Iranian ship
Regarding the Ukrainian attack on the Iranian ship and the telephone conversation between the Iranian and Ukrainian foreign ministers, Baqai said: Ukrainian officials, in their contact with the foreign minister and in their messages, emphasized that this was an unintentional act, but clear evidence, including the explicit statement of the Ukrainian president, indicates that the attack was deliberate. We have heard their explanations and are waiting to see if they will take any action in practice. We will definitely take whatever action is necessary both to hold Ukraine accountable and to ensure that such a crime does not occur again.

The US route in the Strait of Hormuz posed a threat to Iran's national security.
He said about the Iran-Oman talks and the new route: "These talks are for an understanding on a safe shipping route between Iran and Oman. Whether this process can be connected to another process remains to be seen. Let me just explain what the content of this understanding is. We will definitely talk about maritime services.

According to Article 5 of the Memorandum of Understanding on the end of the war on 28th of June, we agreed to devise the future management of the Strait of Hormuz. We had 30 days to return the traffic volume to the days before the war. We were seriously carrying out our duties, but the US did not even let the 30 days expire and carried out widespread attacks under the pretext of targeting several ships, violating all commitments and restoring the naval blockade.

The US announced the cancellation of all commitments at once, and after that the situation became more tense. What we had agreed upon was that ships would travel through Iran’s safe route, but one day after the US Secretary of State’s visit to our region, we were confronted with a unilateral US attempt to open the southern route through Omani waters, which was against the Memorandum of Understanding and posed a threat to Iran’s national security.

The ships that were traveling through this route, intimidation by CENTCOM, some of them were carrying military equipment, and this was in conflict with the overall understanding. During this time, the negotiations centered on the idea that the southern and northern routes would become an intermediate route that would serve the interests of the two coastal countries. We are talking about a corridor that is round trip and this is a temporary intermediate route until the fixed route, or TSS, replaces the old TSS.

Violation of Iraqi sovereignty by Ukraine
The Foreign Ministry spokesman said about the disruption of security in the Kurdistan Region and the violation of Iraqi sovereignty by Ukraine: This is a cause for concern, that a party that is engaged in a four-year conflict and has done unconventional things to gain support wants to carry out a false flag operation in our region. This is a warning for the entire region and we are in talks with the authorities in Iraq.

We are always in touch with the countries of the region
He said about the dialogue with the region to prevent insecurity: We are always in touch with the countries of the region and have been in talks since the first days of the imposed war. The wise people of the region know that insecurity in one country of the region spreads to the others, whether they want it or not. They also realized that the US military presence is destabilizing. Everyone is trying to prevent the escalation of insecurity, but what insures us against the evil of the enemy is our own authority.

The region's optimism about the Iran-Oman talks
Regarding the region's optimism about the Iran-Oman talks, he said: The process of negotiations has been moving forward, and we and Oman had good discussions about the new path. Plans have been exchanged and discussed. We hope that both the countries of the region and outside the region will appreciate this responsible approach of Iran and try to have a positive approach on this path.

The Zionist regime has not adhered to any promises or agreements
Regarding the negotiations between Lebanon and the Zionist regime in Rome, Baqai said: In any process with the Zionist regime, you can have a negative approach, because the regime has not adhered to any promises or agreements.