Addressing reporters in a weekly press conference in Tehran on Monday, Baqaei said adversaries had undermined the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) while questioning why countries discuss nuclear deterrence.
He said the NPT rests on preventing proliferation and allowing peaceful use of nuclear energy. He argued that progress on disarmament has been insufficient, proliferation has not been prevented, and restrictions have been imposed on developing countries’ peaceful nuclear activities, including Iran’s.
He added that Iran’s nuclear facilities had faced dozens of acts of sabotage despite being under International Atomic Energy Agency supervision, while Tehran remained committed to its NPT safeguards obligations. Therefore, he said, discussions by Iranian lawmakers and other figures about deterrence should not be considered unusual.
Strait of Hormuz security
Baqaei said he would not comment on media speculation about possible US pressure on Persian Gulf states. However, matters concerning Iran and Oman are primarily related to the two countries involved. He said security of the Strait of Hormuz concerns its two coastal states. Baqaei argued that current insecurity in the waterway is a consequence of US actions.
Iran, Turkey, China ties
Iran’s relations with Turkey go far beyond carrying messages between Tehran and Washington, Baqaei said, describing the two neighbors as partners with broad shared interests and regular diplomatic contacts.
He also said Iran and Turkey maintain a privileged relationship covering various fields, with foreign ministers in continuous contact. He said the two countries share interests rooted in longstanding ties between their peoples and have common concerns, particularly over the Israeli regime’s expansionism and its actions across the region.
Regarding claims about restrictions on Iran-Turkey trade, he said such issues were under discussion and warned against media campaigns designed to amplify the impact of US economic sanctions. Iran, he added, would use diplomatic channels to counter measures it considers contrary to international law and human rights.
China’s regional role welcomed
Baqaei also welcomed China’s principled and responsible position on regional security, saying Beijing had played constructive roles in strengthening stability. He said China’s latest remarks at the BRICS summit were valuable and that Chinese efforts on regional issues were welcomed by Iran and other countries. However, he stressed that Iran’s problem with the United States is not a lack of mediators, but Washington’s lack of genuine willingness and good faith to pursue diplomacy.
Iran-Iraq border crossings
Passenger traffic at Iran-Iraq border crossings has resumed following diplomatic contacts between Iranian and Iraqi officials. Baqaei said commercial crossings are also expected to return to normal within the next one or two days, helping facilitate trade.
Pezeshkian-Abu Dhabi crown prince meeting
President Masoud Pezeshkian’s meeting with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the sidelines of the BRICS summit was arranged at the UAE side’s request, Baqaei said, adding that Iran accepted the meeting as part of its policy of strengthening trust and regional relations. Bilateral issues were prioritized, alongside regional peace and security, he noted.
No New York visa update
Baqaei also said Iran had received no new information on visas for the Iranian delegation traveling to New York to attend the annual UN General Assembly meeting.
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