Iranian foreign ministry on Monday described US President Donald Trump’s Oval Office blowout with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as heralding the return of 19th century style colonialism.
"From a legal and diplomatic perspective, this serves as a wake-up call to consider whether international relations are reverting to the 19th century, where power, intimidation, and pressure dictated interactions between countries," Esmail Baghaei said during his weekly briefing.
He also spoke about a number of other issues, including the ouster of former foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif as a top presidential aide and Russia's possible role in mediating between Tehran and the Trump administration.
The spokesman also contended that Iran has long rejected reliance on outside powers. “What matters for us and our region is that security must be self-sustained, with regional countries taking the lead in ensuring stability and security in West Asia and the Persian Gulf through their own efforts and cooperation.”
Following the Trump-Zelensky exchange, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s office reposted his 2022 remarks warning against reliance on the West.
Banners reflecting this message have also appeared across Tehran, featuring phrases such as “End of the mirage” and “Leaning on the wind.”
Tensions with Turkey addressed
Baghaei also addressed Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s recent remarks on Iran’s role in the region.
“We highly value our bilateral relations with Turkey,” he said, but added, “The remarks we have heard were unconstructive. Perhaps our Turkish friends should reflect more on the impact of their policies.”
Fidan recently told Al Jazeera that Iran’s costly efforts in Iraq and Syria have yielded little. He said he had conveyed this view to Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani before Soleimani’s 2020 killing in a US drone strike.
Zarif resignation
Responding to a question on whether Vice President Mohammad Javad Zarif’s resignation could be interpreted as a message to foreign parties, Baghaei said, "Surely, you do not expect me to comment on how others interpret the country’s internal developments?"
"Mr. Zarif has clearly expressed his own views in the message he issued."
Baghaei also confirmed that President Masoud Pezeshkian had received Zarif’s resignation letter.
Zarif, the architect of 2015 nuclear deal, said he stepped down after a meeting with Iran’s judiciary chief. “He advised me to return to the university to prevent further pressure on the government,” Zarif wrote on X.
Mediation efforts over US ties
In response to a question about whether Russia has offered to mediate between Iran and the United States, he said: "It is natural for countries to express their willingness to mediate Iran-US negotiations as an act of goodwill and assistance."
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s visit to Tehran last month sparked speculation in Iranian media about whether he is carrying a message from Washington or pushing Moscow’s own agenda at Iran’s expense.
About the possibility of the UAE mediating between Iran and the US, Baghaei said: "Given the significance of this matter, many parties may express their willingness to facilitate discussions. From this perspective, it is natural for countries to consider offering assistance if needed."
