Baghaei: Iran-Russia, China Ties Rest on Shared Interests
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei says Tehran will answer any US attack and urges no military intervention in Yemen, citing Russia, China ties.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - Iran will leave no American attack without a response, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei declared on Tuesday, warning Islamic countries against any military intervention in Yemen and underlining the firmness of Tehran’s strategic partnership with China and Russia.
Speaking at his weekly press conference, Baghaei dismissed as fantasy the rumors that Tehran would show restraint and stay silent in the event of a US attack.
“Is there anyone who would believe Iran would tell the Americans, ‘You strike us, and we will stay silent and listen to you’?” Baghaei said. “It was declared long ago that the era of strike and flee is over. If that was merely a position at the time, then over the past two years we have proven in practice that we will in no way leave any blow unanswered. Even if our blow is not stronger, they will certainly pay the price on the same scale as their attacks.”
Turning to developments in Yemen and the discussion of a decision to grant the Egyptian army military permission to support Saudi Arabia, Baghaei said security and stability in the Arabian Peninsula matter to Iran and to all countries of the region. Iran, he said, does not consider any further military intervention to serve peace, and it would only complicate the situation.
The spokesman revealed that, in talks between Iranian Foreign Ministe, Abbas Araghchi and his Egyptian counterpart, Tehran made clear its position that Islamic countries need not intervene militarily. Instead, he said, the Yemen issue must be resolved through dialogue, on the basis of a roadmap agreed several years ago.
Responding to remarks by US President Donald Trump, who had spoken of Russia and China standing aside on the Iran file, Baghaei described Iran’s relations with the two powers as grounded in shared interests.
“Iran’s relations with Russia and China are built on shared interests,” he said. “We are not naive, and we know well that every country has its own interests. At the same time, we have defined our shared interests with Moscow and Beijing, and we have clear agreements. Regardless of what others say, we are determined to advance our relations.”