Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson talks to DW about the war | DW News

TL;DR

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghaei defended every Iranian action as self-defense, rejecting all Western criticism as illegal interference and media distortion.

Key Points

• 1.Iran named Mojtaba Khamenei, son of slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei (killed February 28th in US-Israeli strikes), as the country's third supreme leader, chosen by the Assembly of Experts per the constitution.
• 2.Baghaei dismissed Trump's warning that any new Iranian leader chosen without US approval "isn't going to last long" as a violation of international law and Iran's right to self-determination.
• 3.On the 2022 protests, Baghaei claimed 2,400 of the 3,000+ killed were security forces or innocent bystanders shot by US/Israeli-backed "infiltrators," and defended internet shutdowns as anti-terrorism measures.
• 4.Iran's president apologized for "inconvenience" caused to Gulf neighbors by Iranian strikes, but Baghaei insisted Iranian forces only target US military bases and assets being used to attack Iran.
• 5.Baghaei repeatedly stressed that US-Israeli attacks interrupted active nuclear negotiations twice — including a planned Vienna meeting — calling diplomacy "betrayed" by Washington.
• 6.When asked about victory or ceasefire conditions, Baghaei said Iran's sole focus is defending territorial sovereignty and declined to name any diplomatic contacts in Washington or Jerusalem.