Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said the new US sanctions against Iran would produce no results, arguing that Washington’s previous sanctions policy had also failed to achieve its goals.
Speaking at his weekly press conference, Baqaei claimed that persisting with methods he described as unsuccessful demonstrated hostility toward the Iranian people. He said ordinary citizens experienced the most direct impact of the sanctions.
Response to US sanctions policy
Baqaei said that, alongside the sanctions, pressure aimed at restricting other countries’ trade relations was also contrary to the principles of free trade and national sovereignty.
The Iranian spokesman argued that the United States was pursuing unlawful practices in international relations, saying this constituted a warning to the international community. He said these practices had prompted protests even among the United States’ close allies.
Tanker aircraft in Bulgaria
Baqaei announced that they had received reports that some US KC-135 tanker aircraft had left Bulgaria. He claimed that Bulgaria’s visible support for US and Israeli attacks against Iran was contrary to international law.
Emphasizing that they had no problem with the Bulgarian people, Baqaei said they viewed the aircraft’s departure from the country as support for the US and Israeli military aggression against Iran. He added that countries allowing their bases, facilities and equipment to be used in actions against Iran occupied a different position.
Tehran said it was not invited to the Makkah agreement
Baqaei said Iran had not received any invitation to join the Makkah defense agreement. He added, however, that they had proposed holding talks with the countries concerned on regional security.
The Makkah agreement, signed at the beginning of August by Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, was concluded to strengthen collective security and defense cooperation and support regional stability.
US-Iran talks and regional tensions
Tensions in the Middle East rose after the United States and Israel launched joint attacks against Iran in late February. Tehran also carried out retaliatory attacks against countries hosting US assets in the region.
The United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding on June 17 and began negotiations aimed at reaching a final agreement. However, the talks later stalled over disagreements concerning security guarantees and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, which is of strategic importance for global trade and energy shipments.
The United States carried out attacks last month against targets inside Iran, while Iran targeted US military facilities and equipment in several Arab countries, including Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait.
