Iran (IMNA) - Speaking in an interview with German broadcaster ARD on Sunday, Baghaei said Iran had learned that Washington and its leadership could not be trusted, arguing that their strategy was “not diplomacy, but attacking the Islamic Republic.”
Responding to US President Donald Trump’s remarks that Washington would not attack Iran before the midterm elections, Baghaei said Iran remained prepared regardless of what the US president said or refrained from saying. He noted that the United States had attacked Iran even while diplomatic efforts were underway.
Baghaei recalled a statement by Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi that Iran and the United States had made significant progress in negotiations. Nevertheless, Washington chose to launch an attack, despite Oman’s role as an intermediary in the talks.
“The US has not shown the least bit of goodwill and will for a diplomatic approach,” the Iranian spokesman said.
Addressing Europe’s approach toward Iran, Baghaei expressed regret that European countries had chosen to appease the United States rather than adopt an independent position. He said the international community expected the European Union to demonstrate a mature approach to global politics.
Instead of playing a constructive role in addressing the nuclear issue, European countries had aligned themselves with Washington, despite knowing that the war launched against Iran was illegal, that the United States had violated the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in 2018, and that Washington had misused the UN Security Council to reimpose sanctions, he added.
Turning to developments surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, Baghaei said the strategic waterway “was not secure” because the United States and Israel had exploited it to launch attacks against Iran. He said the attacks involved not only the strait itself but also the territory and military infrastructure of several Persian Gulf states situated on the opposite shore.
The spokesman stressed that Iran had safeguarded the strategic waterway for centuries but had been compelled to take serious measures to protect its national security and territorial integrity. He described these measures as lawful under international law.
Baghaei also pointed to continued US involvement in regional waters, saying the US Central Command (CENTCOM), in cooperation with certain regional countries, had been pressuring vessels to use routes other than those designated by Iran. He said this pressure had resulted in explosions and other incidents.
The Iranian diplomat further accused the United States of using the so-called southern route to transport military equipment, emphasizing that coastal states had the right to take necessary measures to prevent aggressors from using waterways for military purposes.
On Iran-Germany relations, Baghaei said Berlin needed to decide whether it intended to change its approach or continue appeasing Washington.
He noted that Germans had once enjoyed a strong reputation in Iran, but that standing had been damaged by Germany’s failure to provide a convincing explanation for supplying chemical agents to former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein during his war against Iran in the 1980s.
Baghaei added that Germany’s support for the US-Israeli war against Iran in 2025 and 2026, along with other measures directed against the Islamic Republic, had adversely affected the historically positive relations between Tehran and Berlin.
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