Iran has dismissed “worthless” US accusations that it is escalating tensions in the high seas, saying Washington, complicit in Israel’s genocidal war on the Gaza Strip, is “in no position” to make claims against Tehran.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan’ani made the remarks at a weekly press briefing on Monday, after Pentagon alleged that a chemical tanker operating in the Indian Ocean was struck by an Iranian attack drone.
He held the US responsible for the start of the Gaza on October 7 war and its continuation, saying its actions and support for Israel has increasingly incited intentional communities’ hatred towards itself.
“We reject their (the Americans’) worthless claims, which clearly are politically motivated and are a blame game aimed at covering up the US’s crimes in Gaza,” he added.
“Iran has always ensured security in high seas, acted responsibly, and played an important role in maritime security and international trade through waters. Therefore, the US and no other parties are in a position to accuse Iran.”
In an interview with The Sunday Telegraph newspaper, UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron also claimed that Iran “is a thoroughly malign influence in the region and the world.”
Kan’ani said that Britain, which has always played a significant role in creating regional instability and insecurity, is legally and morally unfit to level accusations at Iran and other parties in the region.
“The UK is itself a defendant over the Gaza war, and of course, the country must be held accountable for its past and present actions concerning its role in establishing and supporting the Zionist regime as the most hated terrorist organization in the region,” he noted.
‘Iran’s priority is to end war crimes in Gaza’
Referring to talks between the Palestinian Hamas resistance group and Turkey and Qatar, the diplomat said that Iran is in contact with all sides regarding the Palestine issue and that its top priority is to end the Israeli atrocities in Gaza.
“Dealing with secondary issues, especially the solutions proposed by the United States, is distracting,” he added.
“Iran’s first priority is to end the crimes of the Zionist regime and ensure the immediate dispatch of aid [to Gaza]. No one other than the Palestinian nation deserves to decide for itself.”
Israel made ‘strategic mistake’ by Gaza war
The spokesman said that the Zionist regime made a “strategic mistake” by choosing the strategy of war on Gaza and that it made a “bigger strategic mistake” by continuing its aggression.
“The regime must understand that what it did against Lebanon in 2006 turned the resistance into a decisive power there. The same situation will be in Gaza and the resistance will emerge victorious,” he emphasized, referring to the 33-war in which Hezbollah defeated Israel.
Claims about trio of Persian Gulf islands ‘action against sovereignty of Iran’
Referring to a recent joint statement issued by several Arab countries and Russia on Iran’s three Persian Gulf islands, Kan’ani said that Iran considers “unacceptable” claims at the statement an “action against its sovereignty and territorial integrity”.
Asked about Iran’s relations with Egypt, he said that the two countries on a good path to open a new chapter in their ties.
He further said that a “cruel” sentence against former Iranian official Hamid Nouri does not mean the end of Iran’s efforts to secure his release.
