(IMNA) – Speaking at his weekly press conference on Sunday, Baghaei addressed a range of regional and international issues, including Iran’s relations with Lebanon, recent US actions, the 2026 World Cup, developments in Yemen, and Iran’s engagement with the IAEA.
On Iran-Lebanon relations, Baghaei said diplomatic ties between Tehran and Beirut are long-standing and ongoing. He noted that Iran currently has an ambassador in Lebanon and that Lebanon’s new ambassador has recently begun his mission in Tehran. Regarding Iran’s next ambassador to Lebanon, Baghaei said nomination procedures have been underway for some time and expressed hope that the process would proceed naturally, allowing the envoy to take up the post in Beirut in the near future.
He also emphasized that Iran opposes statements that distract Lebanon from safeguarding its national sovereignty and territorial integrity, adding that remarks diverting attention from Lebanon’s core national issues should be avoided.
Commenting on the US seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker, Baghaei said Iran has already adopted an official position, stressing that the action has no legal basis. He described the move as illegitimate under international law and rejected the use of domestic laws to justify what he called an international crime. “The US action constitutes an act of piracy, and all countries should condemn it,” he said.
Addressing UN Security Council Resolution 2231, Baghaei said Iran considers the resolution terminated, a view he noted has been endorsed by two Security Council members. He said the reference by Germany, France and the UK to the JCPOA dispute resolution mechanism, under US pressure and for political motives, lacked any legal basis. He added that Iran has formally opposed the Secretariat’s related actions and that the positions of Russia and China on the matter are clear.
On the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Baghaei referred to concerns that the United States may refuse to issue visas to Iran’s national football team. He said the US, as host country, is obligated to comply with FIFA regulations, adding that Washington has already violated its commitments. Baghaei said Iran has lodged protests through FIFA and via the US Interests Section, stressing that Team Melli has the right to participate in the tournament. He expressed hope that the US would refrain from politicizing sports and cultural issues.
Turning to developments in Yemen, Baghaei said the situation unfolding there should concern many regional countries, noting that these developments align with what he described as the Zionist regime’s policy of fragmenting the region. He emphasized the need for dialogue among Yemeni parties to ensure stability and preserve the country’s unity and territorial integrity, calling this the only sustainable path forward.
On Iran’s relations with the IAEA, Baghaei criticized Director General Rafael Grossi and the agency’s Board of Governors for failing to even briefly mention what he described as unlawful US and Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites. He said that a one-sided and non-impartial approach prevents resolution of the issue. Baghaei stressed that the IAEA chief must act within his technical mandate and in line with the agency’s statute, adopting a professional and unbiased approach. He added that repeated statements by the director general would not alter existing realities, reiterating that Iran remains in contact with the agency whenever necessary and that cooperation is based on a law passed by the Iranian parliament.
Responding to a Wall Street Journal report claiming that US commandos intercepted a Chinese vessel en route to Iran, Baghaei said Iranian authorities are awaiting verified information from relevant bodies. “So far, we have not received any information from competent sources,” he said.
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