Iran says won’t let war end based on conditions of ‘aggressive’ parties’

Tehran, Aug 24 (IANS) Iran will not let the war end based on conditions set by the “aggressive” parties, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday

“We have definitely not been the party to start the war, but we will not let the war’s end be based on the aggressive parties’ conditions,” Baghaei told a weekly press conference in Tehran.

He said that Iran remained determined to defend its territory and would not “compromise with the aggressive parties” or surrender to their “excessive demands.”

Baghaei dismissed US claims that the Strait of Hormuz was open and that millions of barrels of oil were passing through it each day, describing them as part of “psychological and media warfare”.

He also slammed Washington’s newly announced anti-Iran economic operation, saying Tehran would use all its “multilateral capacities” to counter US sanctions, which he described as a blow to free trade and national sovereignty, Xinhua News Agency reported.

The spokesman also warned that countries assisting US anti-Iran operations could face consequences, and called the US naval blockade an “act of aggression”.

Asked about Western media reports that Iran could target US bases in Europe if war resumed, Baghaei said Iran reserved the right to target the origin and source of any “act of aggression” if another country allowed its bases, facilities, and equipment to be used for such actions.

A ceasefire was achieved between the warring parties on April 8. On June 18, Iran and the United States signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on ending the war on all fronts, including Lebanon. However, sporadic attacks continued by either side and the MOU was not renewed after it lapsed.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced “the most crushing economic operation ever taken” against any country providing a lifeline to Iran, calling the move “an economic D-Day.”

–IANS

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