Baghaei: Iran’s Missile Program Is Developed to Defend the Nation, Not for Negotiation
Defensive capabilities are strictly non-negotiable, rejecting Western pressure while condemning Israeli crimes, US double standards, and renewed efforts to politicize security and nuclear oversight.
Iran, PUREWILAYAH.COM - Ismail Baghaei, spokesman for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Iran’s missile program has been developed to safeguard the country’s sovereignty and is not a subject for negotiations, stressing that Iran’s defensive capabilities are categorically non-negotiable.
Speaking at the ministry’s weekly press briefing, Ismail Baghaei addressed a wide range of regional and international issues:
Iran’s Defensive Capabilities Are Not Open to Discussion
Responding to media reports regarding the objectives of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the United States and alleged efforts to persuade Washington to launch an attack on Iran, Esmail Baghaei said:
“I would like to make several points. Iran’s missile program has been developed to defend the very existence and sovereignty of Iran, not for negotiation. Therefore, Iran’s defensive capabilities are absolutely not a subject that can be discussed or negotiated.
“The next point is that we are facing blatant hypocrisy. Iran’s defensive program is portrayed as a threat, while the massive flow of weapons to a regime that is carrying out mass killings is treated as normal. This is a clear sign of moral decay for which the United States and the regime’s supporters must be held accountable.
“The current media atmosphere is part of a war that the regime and the United States have initiated. We remain focused on our work, and our forces are fully capable of defending the country. Our armed forces and our nation will continue to carry out their duties with full concentration.”
Israeli Crimes and the Ongoing Assault on the Region
Baghaei said the region continues to face a persistent crisis stemming from Israel’s ongoing aggressions in various forms.
He cited continued arrests and killings of Palestinians as clear instances of crimes against humanity, aligning with what a UN rapporteur has described as a “project to erase Palestine.” He stressed that these crimes increase the responsibility of all people to act to restrain Israel.
False-Flag Operations to Discredit Israel’s Opponents
Commenting on false-flag operations carried out to discredit opponents of the Zionist regime, Baghaei said there is no doubt that the Zionist regime has a long history of designing and executing such operations, many of which have been conclusively proven.
He referred to the operation known as the Lavon Affair in Egypt in 1954, in which the regime, exploiting Egyptian Jews, carried out a series of bombings against American and British interests, as well as libraries and post offices. The objective, he explained, was to justify and maintain the presence of British forces in Egypt. He described this case as a completely clear and well-documented example.
Baghaei noted that until 2005, the Zionist regime continued to deny responsibility for the operation. However, in that year, surviving participants were officially honored, and the individuals themselves openly confessed to their roles.
He concluded by stating that the most effective tool to confront such actions is exposure and disclosure. (PW)