Iran says countries should have no concerns about the Islamic Republic unless they make their bases, facilities, or equipment available to parties carrying out acts of aggression against the country.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei made the remarks during his weekly press conference on Monday. He was responding to questions about reports in Western media outlets that US bases on European territory could be targeted if European states resumed their participation in acts of aggression against the Islamic Republic.
“We also heard that a number of KC-135 tanker aircraft have left Bulgaria,” the official stated, reacting to a report that the aircraft had left the European country amid local protests and strong warnings by the Islamic Republic against third countries abetting aggression against the Iranian nation.
Iran has already stated its position regarding Bulgaria, Baghaei added, noting that from the outset, Bulgarian people and politicians had also described provision of the European country’s facilities for American use against Iran as contrary to international law.
“We have no problem with the people of Bulgaria,” the spokesman said. However, participation in atrocities targeting the Islamic Republic “constitutes an act of aggression,” he stated.
“We hope that other countries that have, in one way or another, made their bases and facilities available to the United States and the Zionist regime to commit an act of aggression against a United Nations member state will also take the necessary action,” Baghaei said.
‘No leniency for abettors’
“There is no reason for any country to have concerns about Iran, unless it has made its bases, facilities, and equipment available to the aggressors for the purpose of carrying out [such] an unlawful and illegal act,” he said, asserting the Islamic Republic’s right to retaliate against the origin of an attack on its soil.
“As we have demonstrated, we will certainly show no leniency when it comes to defending the integrity and security of Iran.”
(This item will be updated).
