Latest news with #IsmailBaghaei
Asharq Al-Awsat
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Iran Turns to Moscow and Beijing to Thwart ‘Snapback' Sanctions Threat
Iran is turning to Russia and China in a bid to head off the potential reimposition of international sanctions, amid escalating tensions over its nuclear program. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has held talks with his Chinese and Russian counterparts to discuss the future of the nuclear accord and the possibility that the European troika could trigger the 'snapback' mechanism. Iranian state media reported on Monday that Araghchi arrived in Beijing at the head of an official delegation to attend a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's foreign ministers. The trip comes as debate intensifies within Iran over the stances of Moscow and Beijing, particularly in the aftermath of the recent conflict between Iran and Israel. Speaking at a press conference, Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei stressed that Gulf security remains a priority for China. 'Araghchi's visit follows an official invitation from the Chinese Foreign Minister,' he said, adding that the Iranian diplomat will hold bilateral meetings Tuesday on the sidelines of the gathering. Baghaei emphasized Tehran's ongoing coordination with both Russia and China, who are parties to the nuclear deal. 'Russia and China have consistently expressed their readiness to play a constructive role in the process related to Iran's nuclear file, and this continues,' he noted. 'We have longstanding, friendly relations with both countries and a strategic partnership.' Addressing reports that Moscow has privately urged Tehran to halt uranium enrichment, Baghaei said: 'We have not received any specific proposal from Russia on this matter.' In Beijing, China's Foreign Ministry confirmed that Foreign Minister Wang Yi discussed Iran's nuclear issue with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, alongside other bilateral and international topics. Meanwhile, Moscow on Sunday denounced a report claiming President Vladimir Putin had urged Iran to accept a deal with the United States that would bar it from enriching uranium. Russia's Foreign Ministry dismissed the claim as 'defamation' aimed at inflaming tensions over the Iranian nuclear program. According to the American outlet Axios, sources familiar with the issue said Putin recently pressed Iran to agree to 'zero enrichment.' But Russia rebuffed the report as baseless, insisting its position is well known: "Invariably and repeatedly, we have emphasized the necessity of resolving the crisis concerning Iran's nuclear program exclusively through political and diplomatic means, and expressed our willingness to help find mutually acceptable solutions," the ministry statement read. It added that Moscow stands ready to help broker mutually acceptable solutions. Since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Moscow has strengthened its ties with Tehran. While publicly backing Iran's right to enrich uranium, Putin has reportedly adopted a tougher line behind closed doors following the 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran. According to European and Israeli officials, Moscow has encouraged Tehran to accept a 'zero enrichment' compromise and shared this position with Israeli authorities. 'We know this is what Putin told the Iranians,' a senior Israeli official confirmed. Last week, Putin is said to have relayed his stance in calls with US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Daily News Egypt
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily News Egypt
Iran says no date set for nuclear talks with US, demands ‘seriousness'
Iran has not yet set a time or place for resuming nuclear negotiations with the United States and conditions its return to the table on 'seriousness,' a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday. 'So far, no time or place has been set for the resumption of negotiations,' spokesperson Ismail Baghaei said at a weekly press conference, according to Iran's Tasnim news agency. He added that there were no arrangements for a meeting between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US envoy Steve Witkoff. When asked about Tehran's conditions for resuming talks, Baghaei said Iran had entered the negotiations with seriousness, but that Israel 'committed a crime against Iran' before the planned sixth round, a reference to the war Israel launched against Iran on June 13. 'Unless we are assured of the usefulness and effectiveness of diplomacy, we will not enter such a path,' Baghaei said. 'We must stress that the dichotomy of negotiating or not negotiating should not turn into a stigma against diplomacy. Diplomacy is an opportunity, and we are not authorised to deprive our country of its right to achieve its national interests. The diplomatic apparatus, just like the armed forces, must serve Iran's national interests,' he added. Araghchi said on Saturday that Iran was considering the 'time, place, form, and necessary guarantees' to resume negotiations with the United States. TALKS WITH EUROPE Regarding negotiations with the European troika of Germany, France, and Britain, Baghaei said: 'We are in contact with them, and we are committed to dialogue with them.' However, he stated that resuming talks with them was 'still under study, and I cannot specify a precise date at present, but we are holding consultations with these three countries.' Baghaei warned that if the European troika resorted to the 'snapback' mechanism to re-impose sanctions, it would mean 'they no longer see a role for themselves in the diplomatic process and the Iranian nuclear file.' He described the mechanism as having 'no legal basis or logical justification.' He also noted that the assessment of the damage to the Fordow nuclear facility from US strikes on June 23 was still ongoing. NO PROPOSALS FROM RUSSIA OR CHINA On the role of Russia, Baghaei said Tehran was in close contact with both Russia and China as parties to the nuclear deal and had 'strategic relations' with both countries. However, he noted that while Moscow and Beijing have always declared their readiness to help with the nuclear file, 'they have not presented any clear proposal so far.' Baghaei denied reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin had sent a letter to Iran suggesting it abandon uranium enrichment. He said there was no such letter and that Russia 'knows that Iranian decisions on the nuclear file are taken independently, and Russia has always respected this decision.'
Saba Yemen
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Iranian Foreign Ministry: Cannot accept NPT obligations without enjoying its rights
Tehran – Saba: The spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Ismail Baghaei, stated on Wednesday evening that Iran cannot accept obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) without enjoying the rights granted by it. The Iranian news agency IRNA quoted Baghaei as calling on the international community to condemn the hostile actions taken by the United States in targeting peaceful nuclear facilities on Iranian soil before focusing on Iran's nuclear program. Baghaei also mentioned that Tehran had received a message from Oman regarding a ceasefire following the attack on the "Al-Udeid" American base in Qatar. He explained that the selection of this base as the target of the Iranian strike was based on specific calculations and assessments made by the relevant military authorities. Whatsapp Telegram Email more of (International)
Fox News
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Iran, Israel and US agree that Islamic Republic nuclear sites were 'badly damaged' despite leaked intel report
President Donald Trump's historic precision strikes on Iran's nuclear sites Saturday hit their targets and "destroyed" and "badly damaged" the facilities' critical infrastructure — an assessment agreed upon by Iran's Foreign Ministry, Israel and the United States. "Our nuclear installations have been badly damaged, that's for sure," Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei told Al Jazeera. Israel's Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said its assessment is that Iran's nuclear program has been "significantly damaged," while Israel's Atomic Energy Commission described the U.S. strikes as "devastating." "The devastating U.S. strike on Fordo destroyed the site's critical infrastructure and rendered the enrichment facility inoperable," Israel's Atomic Energy Commission said. "We assess that the American strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, combined with Israeli strikes on other elements of Iran's military nuclear program, has set back Iran's ability to develop nuclear weapons by many years." It added: "The achievement can continue indefinitely if Iran does not get access to nuclear material." And as for the United States, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan "Razin" Caine said that initial battle damage assessments indicate that "all three sites sustained extremely severe damage and destruction." "More than 125 U.S. aircraft participated in this mission, including B-2 stealth bombers, multiple flights of fourth and fifth generation fighters, dozens and dozens of air refueling tankers, a guided missile submarine, and a full array of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft, as well as hundreds of maintenance and operational professionals," Caine said in a press briefing. And Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that "given the 30,000 pounds of explosions and the capability of those munitions, it was devastation underneath Fordow." "Any assessment that tells you otherwise is speculating with other motives," Hegseth said. The agreement on the assessment of damage between the United States, Israel and Iran comes amid a report that cited leaked low-confidence intelligence from one intelligence agency that suggested the U.S. strikes did not destroy Iran's nuclear sites. A Defense Intelligence Agency source told Fox News that the "low confidence" assessment was based on just "one day's worth of intelligence reporting." More intelligence has been gathered in the days since through other sources and methods, according to the source. "This is a preliminary, low-confidence report and will continue to be refined as additional intelligence becomes available," the Defense Intelligence Agency said. "We are working with the appropriate authorities to investigate the unauthorized disclosure of classified information." And Secretary of State Marco Rubio blasted the report and said that Iran's nuclear program "today looks nothing like it did just a week ago." "That story is a false story, and it's one that really shouldn't be re-reported because it doesn't accurately reflect what's happening," Rubio said. "Everything underneath that mountain is in bad shape." Rubio also added that "there is no way Iran comes to the table if somehow nothing had happened." "This was complete and total obliteration. They are in bad shape," Rubio said. "They are way behind today compared to where they were just seven days ago because of what President Trump did." Even the International Atomic Energy Agency's Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi assessed that "very significant damage is expected to have occurred." "At the Esfahan nuclear site, additional buildings were hit, with the US confirming their use of cruise missiles," he said, according to prepared remarks for the International Atomic Energy Agency. "Affected buildings include some related to the uranium conversion process," he said. "Also at this site, entrances to tunnels used for the storage of enriched material appear to have been hit. At the Natanz enrichment site, the Fuel Enrichment Plant was hit, with the U.S. confirming that it used ground-penetrating munitions." Meanwhile, Trump has been in the Netherlands at the NATO Summit, where he was met with praise from allies on his "decisive" action in Iran. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte praised Trump as a "man of strength" and a "man of peace" during Wednesday's summit. "I just want to recognize your decisive action on Iran," Rutte said at the start of his joint remarks with the president. "You are a man of strength, but you are also a man of peace. And the fact that you are now also successful in getting this ceasefire done between Israel and Iran — I really want to commend you for that. I think this is important for the whole world." The president on Wednesday declared that the United States would strike Iran again if the country attempts to rebuild its nuclear program.
American Military News
17-06-2025
- Politics
- American Military News
Israel Strikes Iranian State TV After Warning Tehran Will ‘Pay Price' For Attacks
This article was originally published by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and is reprinted with permission. Israel attacked Iranian state television IRIB as it broadcast live on June 16, temporarily knocking the station off the air following a warning to residents of Tehran to leave after threatening the capital will 'pay the price' for Iranian missile strikes that hit Tel Aviv and Haifa and killed eight people. As the station, the country's only Persian-language all news channel, was broadcasting, explosions could be heard as a female presenter was on air. The woman quickly went off camera as dust and debris crashed around the studio. It appeared she was unhurt. Authorities provided no immediate information about casualties and damage at the broadcaster, but video showed a massive fire and plumes of black smoke rising from the building. Hours earlier, Israel's military posted a warning specifically naming Tehran's District 3 as a target that would come under attack. The district, which has some 300,000 residents, is home to IRIB, an intelligence division headquarters, and some high-ranking leaders. Tehran's streets have been packed with traffic heading out of the capital as residents flee after several days of air attacks that have targeted nuclear and military facilities, as well as residential buildings that Israel said house senior officials and nuclear scientists. Some residents reported long lines at gas stations and limits on the amount of fuel customers could receive, while in the north, where many are headed, food shortages were starting to appear. The warning were issued as the prospects of an escalation in the conflict between the two countries hang over a Group of Seven (G7) summit in Canada. Earlier in the day, Israel's national emergency services said that 23 people have now died in Iranian attacks on Israel since June 13, when Israel launched air strikes at nuclear and military targets across Iran over the country's nuclear program. Iranian authorities say Israeli attacks have killed at least 224 people over the same time period. Rescue workers continued to sift through rubble and debris in the northern coastal city of Haifa after Iran launched attacks in the early hours of June 16 that injured more than 100 Israelis, while in Tel Aviv, missiles hit several residential buildings, some of which were close to a US consulate. 'The residents of Tehran will pay the price, and soon,' Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said, accusing Iran of purposely targeting residential buildings. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei called on the United Nations on June 16 to 'recognize and condemn Israel's aggression' while accusing the United States of complicity in the attacks. President Donald Trump said on June 15 that the United States is not involved in the conflict, but as the archenemies continue to launch air strikes at each other, he admitted it's 'possible' that will change. Speaking to reporters before departing for the Group of Seven (G7) summit, Trump said the US would continue to support Israel, but declined to answer what it would take for the United States to be directly involved. He continued to press Iran to negotiate on its nuclear program. 'They should talk, and they should talk immediately,' Trump said during a bilateral meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Trump added that Iran 'is not winning this war' and said a deal will eventually be signed with Iran. 'As I've been saying, I think a deal will be signed, or something will happen, but a deal will be signed, and I think Iran is foolish not to sign,' Trump told reporters on the sidelines of the G7 summit. Amid fears the conflict could broaden across the Middle East, Yemen's Houthis said on June 15 that they fired missiles at Israel in coordination with Iran. It was the first time an Iran-aligned group has publicly announced joint cooperation on attacks with Tehran. Nuclear Talks Canceled The outbreak of air strikes forced the cancellation of a new round of nuclear negotiations between the United States and Iran, planned for June 15 in Oman. Iran had described the talks as 'meaningless' after the Israeli air strikes, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told state media that continuing the negotiations would be unjustifiable. However on June 16, Iranian state media reported that Araqchi has told three of his European counterparts that Iran is serious about diplomacy and never left negotiating table but must now focus on confronting 'aggression.' Baghaei said that even though Iran's nuclear program is for civilian purposes only — a claim Tehran has made for years — the Israeli attacks are 'a fatal blow to the nuclear nonproliferation system and international law,' and that is why Europe's silence on the matter is 'a blow to the nuclear nonproliferation system. Iranian lawmakers have said they will introduce a motion in the coming days to withdraw from the Treaty On The Non-Proliferation Of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). In the initial waves of attacks, Israel had appeared to avoid striking Iran's energy infrastructure amid rising world fuel prices, but Iran's Oil Ministry said early on June 15 that Israeli strikes had hit two fuel depots in Tehran. Earlier, Iranian state media said fire broke out at the South Pars gas field in the southern Bushehr Province during an Israeli attack.
