Iran’s Foreign Ministry said on Monday that overnight exchanges of fire with Israel threaten to further destabilize a diplomatic environment it described as "chaotic," and placed direct responsibility for any violations of regional peace on the United States.
In comments delivered by Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei, Tehran said it was engaging in exchanges of messages with Washington, but under an atmosphere of "extreme suspicion." Baghaei framed Israel’s recent actions in Lebanon as efforts to sabotage diplomatic channels, whether those operations occurred with U.S. knowledge and consent or not.
Baghaei specifically linked Washington to enforcement of the April 8 ceasefire, saying the United States - as a party to that agreement - "bore direct responsibility for any violations, including attacks attributed to Israel." He cautioned that the world should be alert to the possibility of a wider regional confrontation as a result of such developments.
On the subject of diplomatic contacts, Baghaei noted that the visit by Pakistan’s interior minister to Tehran on Sunday formed part of efforts to maintain indirect lines of communication with Washington. He characterized those communications as taking place amid deep mistrust.
Separately, Baghaei addressed the upcoming meeting of the U.N. nuclear watchdog’s Board of Governors, saying Iran would respond to any resolution directed against it at that forum this week. He leveled criticism at International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi, accusing him of ignoring the realities of the conflict and of holding "biased political views" that, in Baghaei’s view, undermined the agency’s legitimacy.
The statements from Tehran reiterate its position that actions attributed to Israel are not divorced from U.S. policy or responsibility - a claim centered on the role the United States plays as a party to the ceasefire referenced by Baghaei. They also signal Tehran’s intent to contest any motions at the IAEA board meeting.
Baghaei’s comments blend diplomatic complaint with explicit warnings about potential escalation, while also noting continuing, albeit wary, channels of indirect communication involving third-party interlocutors.
Source note: All assertions in this report reflect statements made by Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei as presented by Iranian authorities.