Iran: Security Not for Sale, Defence Means Non-Negotiable

Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghaei has asserted that Iran's national security and dignity are not for sale and cannot be conditional. In a post on his X account, Baghaei emphasized that the inherent right to self-defence and the means to exercise it are non-negotiable with any party. He stated that Iran has a greater stake in the collective security of the region than any other country.

Baghaei criticized the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC) for what he described as a contradiction: seeking security solutions by sheltering with the biggest violator of security. He called this a "bitter irony and a disappointing sign of failing to learn from recent painful experiences." The spokesman questioned why Iran's southern neighbours, in violation of good neighbourliness and international law, participated in aggressive attacks on a Muslim neighbour and allowed their territory to be used against Iran, including for missile launches.

He further questioned why these countries turn a blind eye to a destructive arms race involving the purchase and stockpiling of hundreds of billions of dollars in advanced weaponry with no defensive justification. Baghaei also asked why they ignore repeated Israeli aggressions against regional countries and the occupation of Palestinian and Lebanese territory. He noted their silence over the occupying regime's nuclear arsenal, which is outside international oversight, while Iran's conventional defensive capability is labelled a threat.

"It must be clear to everyone that Iran's military capabilities guarantee the inherent right of the Iranian nation to legitimate defence against aggression and crime, and at the same time provide peace and stability in the region," Baghaei concluded. According to Mehr News Agency, these remarks underscore Iran's firm stance on its defence policies.