WANA (Apr 30) – Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, firmly rejected the claims made in the press statement by the Secretary-General of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC) regarding the conduct of the Islamic Republic of Iran during what he described as the U.S.–Israel imposed war against Iran. He emphasized Iran’s commitment to the principles of good neighborliness and respect for the national sovereignty of all neighboring states.

 

Referring to actions by some PGCC member states, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated that their involvement in the U.S. and Israeli military aggression against Iran constitutes a violation of international law. He noted that despite acknowledging their legal obligation to prevent their territory and facilities from being used for attacks against Iran, these governments not only failed to act but, in some cases, actively participated in the aggression. According to United Nations General Assembly Resolution 3314 on the definition of aggression, such actions qualify as acts of aggression, effectively making these governments complicit with the United States and Israel in committing grave acts against the Iranian people.

 

Baghaei also dismissed the contents of the Secretary-General’s statement regarding the Strait of Hormuz. He stressed that, as a coastal state, Iran has adopted practical and proportionate measures aimed at self-defense against aggressive actions by the U.S., Israel, and their supporters, as well as to counter threats against its national sovereignty and territorial integrity and to ensure safe passage. He underscored that these measures are fully consistent with relevant rules of international law.

 

Addressing regional confidence-building, Baghaei added that Iran has consistently taken the lead in fostering trust among regional countries and has called on all parties to avoid divisive positions and actions. At the same time, he emphasized that trust-building is a two-way process, and PGCC governments must take concrete steps to build Iran’s confidence. This, he noted, requires, above all, compensating for the damages inflicted on the Iranian people as a result of their participation in military aggression, as well as refraining from cooperation or alignment with parties hostile to Iran.