Netanyahu cannot continue the war for 10 minutes without American support/We have not given any weapons to Yemen

According to Tasnim News Agency, Dr. Hossein Amirabdollahian, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, on the sidelines He traveled to New York to talk to ABC NEWS, which you can read in full below.

I would like to start with the topic of Yemen. There have been numerous attacks on commercial ships and American ships. Do you support these attacks?

You should ask the Yemenis what is happening in Yemen. Less than three weeks ago, one of the Yemeni leaders traveled to Tehran in Sana’a and met with me. Regarding the security of the Red Sea, we agreed that the security of shipping and navigation is a very important issue. Yemenis believe that they adhere to the security of seafaring and shipping. But in support of the civilian population of Gaza, they stop the ships heading to the ports of the Israeli regime in the waters of the Red Sea. This is the decision that the Yemenis have made in support of Palestine. I think their decision is a brave decision. However, the information we have confirms that maritime security is of concern to everyone, even Yemenis. But where is the root and what should be done? In my opinion, if the genocide against Gaza is stopped immediately, security will return to the Red Sea. This is what the Yemenis told us.

You said what the Houthis are doing is brave, so Iran supports their actions in the Red Sea?

We will never welcome the safety of navigation and shipping to be compromised. Because trade and (transportation) of Iranian oil is done through the sea. We benefit from the security of the region. We are an important part of the region and the region’s security. But let’s go back to the root; The root of the Yemeni act of genocide in Gaza and the killing of 25 thousand civilians and thousands of women and children (returns). I think you should pay attention to the roots. We all benefit from security, but security is an interconnected concept. Today we see that the security of the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea are all connected.

Do you support the action of Hamas on October 7? That “October 7 did not happen in a vacuum”. The root of the conflicts in Palestine was never October 7, but goes back to about eight decades of occupation of the Palestinian land. In our opinion, Hamas is a Palestinian liberation movement that has stood against the occupation. Of course, we do not approve of the killing of children, women, and civilians anywhere in the world.

So you consider the killing of women and children in Israel as the killing of women. And you condemned the children in Gaza, do you condemn?

We are against the killing of women and children in Ukraine, Palestine, Afghanistan and anywhere in the world.

I want to return to the topic of Yemen. America has attacked targets in Yemen. The United States says the weapons used by the Houthis were supplied by Iran. Given that you are also concerned about security, don’t you want to stop what is happening?

First, the Yemenis have a lot of weapons since the fall of Ali Abdullah Saleh. . Yemen has many possibilities and capabilities within itself, even they had ballistic missiles since the time of Ali Abdullah Saleh. We have not given any weapons to the Yemenis, they have used their own capabilities. We consider shipping and maritime security to be an important part of regional security. This is an issue that is of interest to Yemenis. I repeat, the Yemenis told us that stopping the war in Gaza will lead to stopping the crisis and tension in the Red Sea. Last week in Davos, I told Mr. David Cameron, the British Foreign Minister, that the joint US-UK military action against Yemen will not help the security of the region and reduce tension in the region.

You say that Iran did not send weapons to the Yemenis and they have their own weapons. Two US Navy officers died while trying to stop the shipment of weapons from Iran to Yemen. The Pentagon has pictures of these weapons that show that the weapons belong to Iran.

These were mainly a TV show. If America has information in this regard, it should provide us with the documents. Since October 7, the United States has transferred hundreds of ships and logistic planes carrying weapons from its bases in the region and outside the region to Tel Aviv. He has openly announced.

I think America should now answer how much is its contribution to the genocide and killing of children and women in Gaza with these weapons? And why instead of trying to stop the war, he acted to inflame and increase the intensity of the war in Gaza and the West Bank? America itself is accused, it cannot accuse others. America is beyond the accused, it has committed a crime and is attacking Yemen together with England without coordination with the United Nations in an act that violates international law. What is the license to attack Yemen? Has the Security Council issued such a permit? Iran has not given any weapons to Yemen.

Are you worried about the spread of war throughout the region? You currently have [the support of] Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Hamas. There is a lot of concern that Iran will get involved or cross a red line.

For weeks, months, and years before the October 7 operation happened, Israel was concerned about the destruction. houses and hospitals and killing civilians in Gaza and West Bank. The action of Hamas was a response to hundreds and thousands of crimes committed by the Israeli regime against the Palestinians. We warned at the same time, after October 7, that with our knowledge of the region, there is a high possibility of an increase in the scope of the war. This is what happened now. But the root of the crisis goes back to the behavior of the extremists in the cabinet of the Israeli regime. Yes, we are concerned about expanding the scope of the war. Everyone will lose from the spread of war.

What measures are you and Iran taking to prevent the spread of war?

I am in New York today as Iran’s foreign minister. In the United Nations and in the Security Council, I will express solutions on how the West Asian region should be saved from this crisis. The Islamic Republic of Iran continues its efforts to return stability and peace to the region. Let’s not forget; We fought ISIS for years in Iraq and Syria, our best military advisers were martyred by terrorists in these countries. No one will benefit from war. We never know the solution in war.

Is there a red line for Iran to go to war with America?

Firstly, the scope of the war in the region has expanded; This means an ever-increasing risk of a wider war. All parties should try to reduce the tension and focus on the political solution. If the United States stops its logistic, weapons, political and media support today and helps Israel’s genocide in Gaza, Netanyahu will not be able to continue the war even for 10 minutes. So the key to solving the problem before Tel Aviv is in Washington. [Martyr Haj] targeted Qassem Soleimani and will pay. Do you think you have settled with America?

This assassination was a big mistake that Trump made and it is not something that can be forgotten.

There have been reports that Iran is seeking to physically remove Donald Trump, Mike Pompeo and Mark Miley. Is it still the same?

We are looking for all the perpetrators and leaders of this terrorist act against Sardar Qassem Soleimani, who is the great hero of the fight against terrorism and our national hero. , be handed over to justice.

What do you mean?

It means to be handed over to justice.

Does it mean to be killed?

Justice He must judge them. In any case, whoever ordered the assassination and killing of a high-ranking Iranian official, according to the Islamic Republic of Iran, should be brought to justice. We in the diplomatic system of Iran continue our efforts to deal with the murderers and those who ordered the assassination of Sardar Soleimani, through the legal, judicial and international channels, so that every person who was involved in this process is brought to justice.

If Donald Trump is re-elected as the president of the United States, how will the relationship between Iran and the United States be?

This It is the American people who decide to appoint the president of their country. We have been in a state of severing diplomatic relations with America for decades. The coming and going of people is not important, it is important to observe the behavior of governments that come to work. The action taken by the government in America, if it is in a framework that is accompanied by mutual respect; be in a framework that provides the interests of both parties; be within the framework of respect for our sovereignty and territorial integrity; It is our concern. Iran and Iranians are civilized people.

We respond to reasonable behavior and mutual respect with reasonable behavior and mutual respect. But we will respond to irrational and non-constructive behavior in another way.

The nuclear agreement that Trump withdrew Is it possible that this agreement will be revived either with Biden remaining as president or with the re-election of Trump?

We think that if there is the necessary will on the American side, it is possible The return of all parties to the JCPOA can be provided. do not forget; Iran is the only country among the parties to the JCPOA that adhered to all its commitments for a long time. We are still exchanging messages in this regard. We receive messages from the American side. If there is serious will, we believe that reaching an agreement is still possible. But, if at any stage due to internal challenges in America, or some crises in the region, one day in Ukraine, one day in Gaza, the restoration of the agreement is affected, this is the choice that the White House can have. But don’t forget; In all these crises, we will adhere to our principled policy and adherence to our commitments if all parties to the JCPOA adhere to their commitments.

There are reports. that the inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency believe that Iran has enough enriched uranium to build several nuclear weapons. What is your opinion?

We have stated many times that Iran is not seeking to build an atomic bomb. We have stated many times that we are not seeking to acquire an atomic bomb, both for our religious and religious reasons and for our own moral and value reasons. If we had such an intention, we could have moved in this direction years ago. We need nuclear technology to develop the frontiers of knowledge, technology, medicine, agriculture and industry in our country. We consider nuclear technology as our natural right.

The agency is aware of all our activities. There is a strong relationship between Iran and the agency. I told my friend, Mr. Raphael Grossi, that whenever the agency has acted technically, everything has gone well, and whenever the agency has been under external pressure in the political direction, the relationship between the agency and Iran has been affected. Our peaceful nuclear program is transparent and clear, and this program does not pursue nuclear (weapon) goals, regardless of how much we enrich our uranium. But naturally, the non-commitment and rudeness of the American and Western parties forces us to take some countermeasures. Iran lifted the embargo. Have you been able to access that money that the US says should only be used for humanitarian purposes? If yes, for what purpose have you used this money?

Our assessment is that following the exchange of messages and indirect conversations, there have been developments in the issue of prisoner exchange and transfer. The transfer and relocation of parts of Iran’s assets and property was achieved. There are rumblings and noises within American society. Some columnists and some opponents of the government in America express things. But the money that was exchanged and transferred belonged to Iran and not to America. We made an agreement, the intermediary of this agreement was the government of Qatar. We follow up in the right way to be able to use these resources and our assets. If the American side reneges on its commitment with any justification and repeats its previous renegade, it will make the situation more difficult and the wall of mistrust between Tehran and Washington will grow higher.

We are waiting for the right time and will test whether These assets are easily used by us or faced with the bad faith of the United States. You have to wait. They have said they are committed.

You said the United States is responsible for the expansion of the war. Iran is also responsible. In your opinion, how likely is the war between Iran and the United States?

In the past 110 days, American officials have repeatedly sent us messages that the United States does not want to expand the war. We do not seek to expand the scope of the war, but we tell the Americans frankly that you cannot increase the intensity of the war in Gaza and the West Bank and create a military conflict with Yemen in the Red Sea and then talk about not expanding the scope of the war! The situation in the region is very sensitive. We must act very carefully. We must allow the United Nations, the Secretary General of the United Nations, and the Security Council of the United Nations, who are responsible for (maintaining) international peace and security, to fulfill their duties. America is not God and the undisputed leader of the world! The United States is a member of the United Nations. America should know that security in the region will not be achieved through war and military action. Our region is the region of great historical civilizations. One should speak with civilized expression and language and with respect to the owners of great civilizations. In the region, we will continue our efforts to establish stability, security and have a region with security and sustainable development.

end of message/