Iran will not allow the war to end under conditions dictated by the country that started the aggression, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghai said today, stressing Tehran's determination to defend the country's territorial integrity and national sovereignty, the Iranian news agency IRNA reported, quoted by BTA.
At his regular weekly press conference on Monday, Baghai said that Iranian representatives had expressed very clearly their seriousness and determination to defend the country's territory.
In response to a question from an IRNA correspondent about President Masoud Pezeshkian's recent statement that it would be better for the war to end while Iran is in a strong position, he rejected interpretations that the president's words indicate a readiness to concessions to the country's opponents.
He also commented on reports in Western media about the possibility of American bases in European countries being attacked in the event of renewed hostilities, as well as the information that American KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft had left Bulgaria.
He explained that Iran had already clearly expressed its position regarding Bulgaria, and confirmed that Tehran had received information that several American aerial refueling aircraft had left the country.
“From the very beginning, as many people and politicians in Bulgaria itself have stated, this action was contrary to international law, because we have no problem with the Bulgarian people, and it was in a sense seen as support for the military aggression of the United States and the Zionist regime against Iran,“ he said.
Bagai pointed out that according to international law, countries that allow their bases, facilities and equipment to be used by the United States and Israel for military actions against Iran, can be considered as participants in an act of aggression.
“We hope that other countries that in one way or another have provided their bases and facilities to the United States and the Zionist regime to commit the crime of aggression against a UN member state will also take the necessary actions“, he said.
The Iranian spokesman said that countries have no reason to fear possible actions by Iran unless they allow their bases, facilities or equipment to be used by the aggressors for illegal actions.
“Iran has the right to strike the source and place from which any act of aggression against Iran originates. This is part of international law and, as we have shown, in protecting Iran's very existence, we will certainly not show any leniency," he said.
On July 21, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei warned Bulgaria not to allow its territory to be used by the United States for military action against Iran. In August, the Financial Times reported that Iranian forces had considered options for strikes on American targets in southeastern Europe, including Bulgaria, which had last month allowed the use of the Bezmer airbase for refueling American aircraft. Bulgarian authorities said that according to the information provided by the services, there was no direct threat to national security, and enhanced security measures had been taken around the Bezmer airbase.