WANA (Mar 16) – Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson said the country did not start the war and will continue to defend itself with full force as long as the country’s decision-makers deem necessary.

 

He also stressed that the Strait of Hormuz has not been closed, but ship traffic is currently operating under special conditions due to insecurity created by the United States.

 

Iran Had Warned Regional Countries About Use of Their Territory

Speaking at his final weekly press conference of the Iranian year 1404, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei addressed reports that the United States and Israel used the territory and airspace of some regional countries to attack Iran.

 

He said Iran had warned those countries months earlier not to allow their maritime or land territory to be used against Iran and that they had assured Tehran such actions would not occur.

 

Baghaei added that the continued use of U.S. military bases and facilities in the region to launch attacks on Iran cannot be denied.

 

He emphasized that Iran has no hostility toward regional countries and that all Iranian strikes have targeted U.S. military bases and related facilities. According to him, such actions do not constitute a violation of the sovereignty of neighboring states.

 

Iran Documenting Use of Regional Territory for Attacks

Baghaei said Iran is documenting the use of regional territory by the United States to launch attacks on Iran and plans to present the evidence to the international community, although Tehran has little trust in international institutions.

 

Commenting on a recent UN Security Council resolution against Iran, he said it once again demonstrated that the council has become a tool for advancing U.S. policies against independent countries.

 

60% Enriched Uranium Does Not Mean a Nuclear Bomb

Responding to claims by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff that Iran had threatened during negotiations to build 11 nuclear bombs, Baghaei said the accusations are part of a “campaign of lies and deception.”

 

He stressed that possessing uranium enriched to 60 percent does not mean Iran has nuclear weapons. According to him, contradictory claims by U.S. officials are aimed at justifying their attacks.

 

He added that the current situation is the direct result of decisions made by U.S. leaders acting alongside Israel in launching the aggression.
Warning About Possible “False Flag” Operations

 

Baghaei also addressed recent incidents in which attacks in the region were attributed to Iran, claims that Tehran has denied.

 

He said Iran’s enemies use every possible tool to complicate the situation and create divisions between Iran and regional countries.

 

According to him, governments in the region and global public opinion must remain vigilant, as what Iran describes as “false flag operations” is a real phenomenon.

 

Claims About Iranian Drones Reaching the U.S. Are Absurd

The spokesperson dismissed claims by some U.S. security agencies suggesting Iranian drones could reach the U.S. West Coast.

 

“Do they even know the range of Iran’s drones?” he asked, adding that their range does not allow them to reach the western United States.

 

He also said Iran’s armed forces openly acknowledge any targets they strike and clearly deny actions they did not carry out.

 

Criticism of Ukrainian President’s Position

Baghaei criticized Ukraine’s president for supporting Iran’s adversaries in the conflict.

 

He said the Ukrainian people are suffering under a leader who has kept the country in a preventable war for four years and continues to insist on the same path.

 

According to him, Ukraine’s support for the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran amounts to complicity with aggressor states, something Tehran will not forget.

 

Strait of Hormuz Not Closed but Traffic Controlled

Baghaei said the Strait of Hormuz has not been closed but that shipping is operating under special conditions because of the security situation created by the United States.

 

He explained that Iran’s armed forces are managing traffic in the waterway and that countries not involved in the war can pass through the strait with Iranian authorization.

 

However, he stressed that the United States and its allies should not be able to use the strait to harm Iran, describing this stance as consistent with international law.

 

Regional Countries Unlikely to Join the War Against Iran

The spokesperson said Arab and Muslim countries are unlikely to support a war against a Muslim nation alongside a regime that, in Iran’s view, has committed genocide in the occupied territories.

 

Response to Trump’s Remarks About Attacking Kharg Island

Baghaei also reacted to remarks by Donald Trump about potentially attacking Iran’s Kharg Island “for fun.”

 

He said such statements reflect confusion among U.S. officials attempting to justify a war they launched based on what he described as false claims of an imminent Iranian threat.

 

Pressure on Iran’s Women’s National Football Team

Baghaei also addressed reports that some members of Iran’s women’s national football team faced pressure to seek asylum while in Australia.

 

He said the incident showed “hypocrisy,” arguing that political actors attempted to exploit the players.

 

He added that the athletes did not fall for the pressure and that several individuals who had been influenced by the situation are now returning to Iran.

 

Baghaei also said FIFA should respond to remarks by Donald Trump questioning Iran’s participation in the World Cup, emphasizing that Iran has the right to take part after qualifying.

 

Iran’s Conditions for Ending the War

Asked about the conditions for ending the conflict, Baghaei said Iran did not start the war and that the Iranian public will not accept a situation in which the opposing side seeks a ceasefire whenever it faces difficulties, only to restart hostilities later.

 

He said the opposing side must be held accountable and provide guarantees that such wars will not be imposed on the region again.

 

Attack on Minab School Described as “Horrific Crime”

Baghaei described the attack on the “Shajareh-Tayyebeh” elementary school in Minab as a horrific crime in which several students and teachers were killed.

 

He said Iranians will never forget the incident and that other attacks—including strikes on the naval vessel Dena, diplomatic police facilities, and civilian areas—must also be documented.

 

Iran Facing a “Full-Scale War”

Responding to questions about mediation efforts, Baghaei said the term “de-escalation” does not accurately describe the situation.

 

“Iran is in a full-scale war and is defending itself,” he said, adding that the country will continue its defense as long as necessary.

 

Kurdish Region of Iraq Aware of Consequences

Baghaei also addressed concerns about anti-Iran groups operating in Iraq’s Kurdistan region.

 

He said Iranian security and military authorities remain in close contact with officials in Baghdad and the Kurdistan region, who are fully aware of the consequences of allowing their territory to be used for destabilizing activities.

 

Iran’s Defense Not a War Against Neighboring Countries

The spokesperson emphasized that Iran’s defensive actions should not be interpreted as a declaration of war against regional states.

 

He said Iranian forces carefully select military targets and aim specifically at facilities supporting the aggressors.

 

Baghaei also said recent U.S. and Israeli attacks targeted two diplomatic police facilities in Tehran responsible for protecting embassies, and that several embassies suffered damage due to strikes nearby.

 

Iran–Russia Cooperation Continues

Baghaei said cooperation between Iran and Russia remains in place based on existing agreements and the strategic partnership treaty between the two countries.

 

However, he noted that some projects may have experienced temporary delays due to the war.

 

Reports of Iranian Assets Seized in Dubai Being Investigated

Commenting on reports that assets belonging to Iranian traders were seized in the United Arab Emirates, Baghaei said Iran’s consulate in Dubai remains active and diplomatic relations with the UAE continue.

 

He added that the Foreign Ministry is investigating the reports, saying there appears to be no logical basis for such measures.

 

Documenting Crimes to Pursue Compensation

Baghaei said Iran is documenting alleged war crimes committed against its citizens in order to pursue compensation through international legal mechanisms.
Sports Facilities Also Targeted

 

He also said several sports facilities in Iran were damaged in recent U.S. and Israeli attacks, including the 12,000-seat Azadi Stadium in Tehran.

 

Several Iranian athletes attended the press conference, including Arash Miresmaeili, Ruhollah Rostami, Fereshteh Hassanzadeh, Anahita Mohammadinia, and Sadegh Beigdel.

 

At the end of the event, Miresmaeili read a letter from Iranian athletes addressed to international organizations condemning the attacks on Iran.

 

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi briefly appeared on the sidelines of the press conference and thanked journalists for their work over the past year.