WANA (Mar 22) – Iran’s Foreign Ministry has described expectations of restraint from Tehran as unrealistic, urging the United States and Israel to cease what it called acts of aggression.

 

Speaking in an interview, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Iran is facing “a combination of aggression and terrorism,” adding that foreign forces are targeting the country’s elites and leaders in an unprecedented campaign.

 

“The killing must stop. They have killed many across the country. Therefore, one cannot expect a country defending itself against such brutal aggression to exercise restraint toward those with no limits in targeting us,” Baghaei stated.

 

He emphasized that “offering an olive branch to those who are trying to behead us is not realistic.” Baghaei also referenced the early days of the conflict, recalling the deaths of more than 170 children at a girls’ school in Minab.

 

“We did not start this war. We do not initiate attacks, and we have not retaliated against schools or hospitals. We have only stated that any American facilities or infrastructure targeting ours would be considered legitimate targets in response,” he said.

 

The spokesman placed responsibility for casualties and regional instability squarely on the United States and Israel. “Expecting restraint from Iran essentially means expecting us to stop responding to these aggressions,” he said.

 

Baghaei added that no country would remain passive in the face of such savage attacks and reiterated that Iran is solely defending itself.

 

On the involvement of neighboring countries, he said: “There is no doubt that the Israeli regime seeks endless wars in the region. They want the area to remain perpetually unstable, and they have pursued this for over a decade, particularly in the last two and a half years.”

 

He also criticized U.S. attacks on Iran launched from neighboring countries, calling them “violations of international law and principles of good neighborliness,” and warned Gulf states against allowing American and Israeli use of their territory for attacks on Iran.

 

Regarding the possibility of a U.S. ground war, Baghaei said Iran is prepared for all scenarios.

 

“We do not welcome aggression or war, but we are ready for anything. This is our homeland. We are a patriotic people and will defend our land with all our resources,” he said, adding, “The U.S. should consider Iran’s history of resistance against invaders and will see how we respond to any aggression against our country.”