WANA (Jun 30) – Iran’s Acting Minister of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics, Brig. Gen. Seyed Majid Ebnolreza, said Tehran does not trust its adversaries and warned that any violation of the ceasefire would be met with an “appropriate and necessary” response.

 

In a telephone conversation with Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan Al Thani, Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs, Ebnolreza thanked Doha for its role in the negotiations that led to the current ceasefire. He claimed, however, that “the opposing side has already violated its commitments on several occasions during this short period.”

 

Referring to what he described as the United States’ long record of failing to honor its commitments toward Iran, Ebnolreza said Tehran’s distrust stems from decades of U.S. interference and repeated hostile actions.

 

He added that Iran “will never forget” what he described as the assassination of its political and religious leader, military commanders, civilians, and “especially the students of Minab School,” saying these incidents would remain part of what he called America’s “black record.”

 

While stressing Iran’s trust in neighboring Muslim countries, particularly Qatar, Ebnolreza said, “We trust our brothers, but we do not trust the enemy. Our finger remains on the trigger, and without hesitation, if any provision of the ceasefire is violated, we will take the appropriate and necessary action.”

 

He also said the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz should not be exploited by extra-regional powers, arguing that the presence of foreign forces undermines regional security by fueling mistrust and instability.

 

Ebnolreza said regional security should be ensured by the countries of the region themselves, describing security as an “indigenous” matter.

 

Addressing regional conflicts, he accused Israel of committing crimes in Gaza, Syria, Lebanon, Qatar, and Iran, and said continued U.S. support had enabled Israel to persist and, in his words, rely on regional crises for its survival.

 

The acting defense minister concluded by reaffirming Iran’s readiness to expand defense cooperation with neighboring countries, particularly Qatar, saying closer military and security cooperation would strengthen mutual trust and collective regional security.

 

At the end of the call, both sides emphasized the importance of expanding bilateral defense relations and cooperation.