Pars Today

Pars Today- Iranian Foreign Minister, Hussein Amir-Abdullahian, who has just traveled to New York, expressed interesting remarks on the latest developments of the region and Iran's policy in an interview with NBC News channel.

He mentioned interesting issues in this interview, which we are going to point to some of them:

Q: Mr. Foreign Minister! Thank you very much for taking part in this interview. We all know that it is a tense era and the American viewers who are watching this interview are very worried about a catastrophic war between Israel and Iran. What is your message?

A: We have announced several times since the crisis in Gaza that the Islamic Republic of Iran will never welcome the spreading of war and tension in the region. As for the event that happened last week, within the framework of legitimate defense, we launched an operation on two military bases of the Israeli regime which had been used for missile attack against Iran's Embassy in Damascus. Immediately after the end of our successful operation, we announced in a message to the United States that we had no intention to continue operation against the Israeli regime. But, we asked the US repeatedly to recommend the Israeli regime not to spread war in the region. This is the way Netanyahu pursues for survival of himself and his cabinet. The Islamic Republic of Iran stands on the positive side of the regional developments, both in the struggles against terrorism in the recent years and the effort to stop war in Gaza and restoration of security and calm in the region, from the Mediterranean coasts to the Red Sea and the entire region.

Q: I have a very important question, but I ask it briefly. Will Iran respond?

A:  If the Israeli regime resorts to adventurism and intends to launch an operation against Iran, our response will be different from the past. Our previous response was minimal and limited. We just targeted two of their military centers and military bases: Nevatim Airbase and an intelligence and espionage base in the occupied Golan Heights. Both of the bases had a role in attacking Iran's Embassy in Damascus. If the Israeli regime takes an adventurous measure, Iran will take a serious move against the regime.

Q: Our sources have said that last night Israel retaliated and it was Israel which bombarded Iran.

A: What happened last night was the flight of two or three quadcopters in a very limited space which were instantly destroyed and nobody has accepted the responsibility of this issue, yet.

Q: Was Iran informed of Israel's last night retaliatory attack before?

A: Our defense system is a smart system. As soon as the 2 or 3 quadcopters appeared in Isfahan's sky, they were targeted and destroyed. The preparedness of our Armed Forces is 100 percent.

Q: Do you consider the issue of bombardment of the Iranian Embassy in Syria as closed and will not take any other action?

A: Since we are not intent to spread war in the region, we kept self-restraint. Netanyahu got a false signal of our self-restraint and trespassed the redline and attacked our embassy with 6 missiles. Here, there were two choices before us: First, immediate response to Israel and second, self-restraint and giving chance to diplomacy. We adopted giving chance to diplomacy and self-restraint while observing the regional conditions, the necessity of focusing on the issue of Gaza and not spreading war. This approach of us led to referring to the UN Security Council. We had expected that the UNSC would issue a statement in condemnation of attacking a diplomatic place and violation of Vienna conventions. Unfortunately, the approach of silence vis-à-vis this statement was broken by the US, Britain and France and they opposed the issuance of the statement. Thus, there remained one choice before us: Iran's clear response and warning within the framework of legitimate defense. When we decided to carry on military operation on Israel, we wanted first to warn and punish the regime. We observed proportion in the operation. We could have target Haifa and Tel Aviv. We could have target all economic ports of Israel. We could have target the governmental and economic institutes of the Israeli regime. But, our redline was the civilians. Our target was defined merely as military, and that, two military bases which had been used in attacking our embassy in Damascus. We wanted to show this will that we are ready for defending national interests and security and we are ready for its consequences, too. The Israeli regime makes a mistake, the next response will be decisive, immediate and regret-inducing.

Q: Iran has entered the war with Israel. Your country has lost two generals and 5 members of IRGC in the attack on the embassy in Syria. Scores of thousands of people have been killed in Gaza. When you look at the past and think of attacking Israel on October 7, don't you think Hamas has done too much?

A: We had no information ahead of the operation that Hamas launched. But, there is a reality: The root is not in October 7. It is in 75 years ago. It is in 75 years of occupation of the Palestinian territory. The Israeli regime is not a legitimate government. The Israeli regime is an occupying power according to the international rights. The prolongation of the period of occupation creates no right for the occupying power. The nature of Israeli land is occupation on the basis of the international law. The international rights say that freedom-seeking groups can take action to defend their territory and bring their country out of occupation. Hamas is not a terrorist group. Hamas is a deep-rooted popular current and a freedom-seeking movement against occupation. The root is in occupation. That root must be heeded. The root is not October 7.

Q: I know that you have been a diplomat for decades. Was it worth for Hamas to take such an action and eventually lead to these events?

A: Hamas decides in line with the interests of the Palestinian nation. Hamas decides in line with the demand of the Palestinian people. Hamas has taken action in line with the UN resolutions and the rights which have been heeded to determine the fate of this country. We support Hamas' action to confront the unholy phenomenon of occupation. We have announced clearly since the beginning of crisis and October 7 that the Islamic Republic has never supported and will not support carnage of women and children anywhere in the world.

Q: Do you think that the Biden administration is honest in its measures to recognize a Palestinian country and then the negative vote to Palestine's membership in the UN?

A: Look! In my opinion, the Biden administration has put a series of slogans on its agenda about the issue of Palestine and Gaza and certain conducts can be seen from him. We see that the words and deeds of the US are contradictory. For instance, on the one hand the US says I am trying for ceasefire, but does not wield its authority properly to force Netanyahu to accept ceasefire. Look! As for the attack on Iran's Embassy by the fighters in control of the Israeli regime, the Americans sent us a message and said we had not been involved in the attack and no coordination or green light had been shown from us to Israel. If we accept that this word of the US and the White House is true, we should accept that Netanyahu does not observe any redline. If Netanyahu does not observe any redline towards which even the US is sensitive, why this much of support for Netanyahu? While the US is speaking of peace and ceasefire and returning of security to the region and not spreading war, then, why does in the very US it is decided to send $1 billion arms assistance to Israel and the American officials have interviews on it? If the US wants Netanyahu not trespass redlines, why is the statement in condemnation of violation of international rights receives the US' vote in protest to it? And the US is not intent to support the recognized Vienna conventions that are important for protection of all diplomats and diplomatic places?

Q: As you know, the US election is on the way. Which candidate does Iran prefer to negotiate with, Biden or Trump?

A: It is the American people who are to elect. Any choice of the American people is related to the American society. We have recognized principles in our foreign policy. For us there is no difference between democrats and republicans. The real difference should be searched in the US conduct. We will judge according to the US conduct. If the US conduct is based on non-interference and respect towards the Iranian people and respect to the Iranian sovereignty and territorial integrity, whatever the American people elect will be respectful.

Q: Iran celebrated the 45^th anniversary of its Islamic Revolution. We have received reports on the discontent of the Iranians on economy and dissatisfaction with the government. There are also complaints about the violation of human rights and civil rights. What can you say to the world about the next 45 years?

A: For the past 45 years, first, we have made great breakthroughs in the field of political independence; and second, we have made great progresses in relation with sciences, technology, industry, defense and so on. In some issues, we are among the 5 or 10 top nations in the world. We have made basic progresses with the help of the people and youths even in the issues of modern technologies and the areas which we were not permitted due to sanctions. As for the economic problems, it is a reality. Part of them have occurred due to the illegal policies and enforcement of the US unilateral sanctions and forging of phobia by the US for other countries. Another part is because of economic problems in the entire region which is not limited only to Iran. We have passed over huge barriers. Today, our country is in one of its most powerful situations in the scientific, technological and defensive domains. In the economic domain, too, with the endeavor of our people, our youths, and the programs that my government has put on the agenda, there will be a bright future for Iran and the Iranian people. Our government, too, will achieve great successes in this course with the help of the people. Sanctions have inflicted harms on us, but has taught great lessons and brought huge achievements for Iran.

Q: Thank you for your time.   

RM/MG