Araghchi: Any Britain cooperation with aggressors unacceptable

Pars Today – Iran’s Foreign Minister said that any cooperation by Britain with aggressors is unacceptable.

According to Pars Today, citing IRIB News, Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband held a phone conversation to discuss bilateral issues as well as the latest regional and international developments.

During the call, Araghchi condemned Britain’s inappropriate approach toward Iran, including the country’s recent decision to label Iran’s armed forces, as well as Britain’s complicity in two imposed wars by the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran. He stressed the need for the British government to reconsider its position on these issues.

Referring to the military aggression by the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran as the main cause of the current situation in the region, Araghchi said that the Islamic Republic of Iran entered the diplomatic process in good faith and reached an agreement to end the war on June 18, but the United States once again prevented its implementation by violating its commitments.

Araghchi, stressing Iran’s determination to establish operational mechanisms with Oman to manage maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, said: “Interference by third parties in this process will only further complicate the current situation.”

Araghchi added that, according to international law and the definition of aggression in relevant resolutions, allowing an aggressor party to use a country’s territory and facilities to launch an unlawful attack against another country constitutes an act of aggression and gives the attacked country the right to resort to legitimate self-defense.

The British Foreign Secretary, for his part, outlined the approach of the new government, saying: “We are not part of the war with Iran, and we believe in diplomacy to resolve issues.” Ed Miliband stressed the need to continue diplomatic engagement with Iran in order to improve relations and reduce tensions in the region.

This comes as new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, in the early days of his tenure, agreed to the US use of British military bases for what Washington describes as “defensive strikes” against Iran.