Iran Says Demanded Legitimate Rights in Its Response to US

Iran’s Foreign Ministry said Monday it had called for an end to the war across the region and the release of frozen assets abroad in its response to the latest US proposal.

“We did not demand any concessions. The only thing we demanded was Iran’s legitimate rights,” said ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei in a weekly press briefing.

He said Iran’s demands included “an end to the war in the region”, ending the US naval blockade, and the “release of assets belonging to the Iranian people, which have for years been unjustly trapped in foreign banks”.

Baghaei said that “any interference in the Strait of Hormuz will further complicate the situation,” considering the problem as the “aggressive actions” of the United States and “the Zionist entity.”

He added that his country will continue to fight “whenever necessary” and will use diplomacy to achieve “the rights of the Iranian people” when it deems it appropriate, emphasizing that “satisfying others is not a standard” for Tehran.

He stressed that regional security must be guaranteed by the regional powers themselves, arguing that relying on foreign forces would only exacerbate insecurity.

He also affirmed that any interference that undermines regional security and trust is “unacceptable,” regardless of the actor.

Meanwhile, China said it was ready to work with the United States in the pursuit of “more stability” globally, ahead of this week’s meeting between leaders Xi Jinping and Donald Trump.

“Top-level diplomacy plays an irreplaceable strategic guiding role in China-US relations,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a regular news briefing.

“China is willing to work with the United States in the spirit of equality, respect, and mutual benefit, to expand cooperation, manage differences, and inject more stability and certainty into a volatile and intertwined world.” (AFP)