The aggression carried out against Iran has endangered regional security and peace, and Tehran’s wish is that Armenia does not suffer any damage as a result of these actions, Iran’s Ambassador to Armenia Khalil Shirgholami said.
He added that if the hostilities continue, unfavorable conditions could emerge for all states in the region.
“Those who carried out these actions irresponsibly endangered both regional and international peace and stability. The security of our friendly and neighboring Armenia is extremely important to us, and Armenia’s territorial integrity is a red line for us. Our wish is that Armenia never suffers any harm as a result of these actions,” the ambassador said.
He also stressed that, in his assessment, the international response to the aggression against Iran has not been adequate.
“Many of the countries that speak about the rule of law and human rights remained completely silent in the face of this attack,” he stated.
Commenting on reactions voiced in Armenia, the ambassador expressed regret over what he described as “illogical statements” by “a group of analysts” who continue to promote a Western vision in Armenia.
According to Shirgholami, the attack on Iran took place at a time when Tehran had demonstrated maximum readiness to achieve results in the negotiation process.
“The attack by the U.S. and the Zionist regime occurred when Iran had presented its operational, precise and highly feasible proposals to the U.S., and at a time when Iran was showing the utmost goodwill to make these negotiations successful. It is very surprising to us how a system or regime that cannot adhere to the principles of negotiations has decided to enter a negotiation phase at all,” he said.
Addressing Iran’s retaliatory actions, the ambassador noted that they were not directed against neighboring states, but targeted American military bases located in those countries.
“As long as this aggression continues, we will continue self-defense,” he declared.
According to him, advisers to U.S. President Donald Trump had warned that the war would not be easy or low-cost, and, in the ambassador’s view, Trump has now also become convinced of that reality.
He emphasized that the international community is obliged to decisively condemn the aggression, adding that China and Russia have already expressed clear positions on the matter.
“We can organize our self-defense on our own; we do not need anyone to come and fight on our behalf. But, of course, cooperation and support from our partners are important to us in this matter,” he said.
Speaking about the reactions of countries on whose territories American bases were targeted, the ambassador underlined that the war against Iran had been imposed.
“It is impossible for military bases located in the region to be used in the framework of aggression against Iran and for us to simply sit and watch,” he added.
In his assessment, the use of those bases was either carried out with the consent of the respective states — which he described as a hostile attitude toward Iran — or without their authorities’ approval. In the latter case, he argued, the territories in question were not under the full sovereign control of those states and were therefore regarded by Tehran as American.
The press conference began with a minute of silence in memory of Iran’s Supreme Spiritual Leader Ali Khamenei and around 170 teachers and children.
Although negotiations mediated by Oman between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear dossier had been held in Geneva last week, the United States and Israel carried out strikes against Iran on the morning of February 28. Iran’s supreme spiritual leader, chief of the armed forces’ general staff, defense minister, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and secretary of the Defense Council were killed. A 40-day period of mourning has been declared in the country. Iran responded with missile strikes on Israeli territory and U.S. military facilities in the Middle East.
