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Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Thursday that Iran `is not seeking confrontation. but will not escape defending itself.“
Zarif made the remarks in an interview held at the Iranian mission in New York with the Reuters news agency.
Zarif is in New York to take part in the United Nations General Assembly annual Conference on `Remarking and Promoting International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace.`
Talking of the US President Donald Trump`s behavior. Iranian foreign minister said Trump does not want war with Iran. but he may be brought into a conflict.
Zarif said a “B-team.“ including Trump’s national security adviser John Bolton and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could spur Trump into a conflict with Iran.
`Those who have designed the policies that are being pursued do not simply want a negotiated solution. But let me make it clear that Iran is not seeking confrontation. but will not escape defending itself.`
The foreign minister. then. warned of the possibility that some individuals could try “to plot an accident“ in order to precipitate a broader crisis.
He further said Iran. in response to the US dangerous policies. will act with `prudence.`
To clarify his remarks. Zarif pointed to southern Iranian Strait of Hormuz where Iran still allows US warships to pass through the Strait.
The Strait of Hormuz at the mouth of Persian Gulf is the world’s most important sea lane for carrying 30 percent of crude oil. Iran has threatened that it will close Hormuz Strait if US blocks the country`s oil exports.
About the recent anti-Iran move taken by the US to designate the Islamic Revolution Guards Cops (IRGC) as a terrorist group. Zarif called the anti-IRGC decision `absurd.`
Zarif went on to say that Iran will not plan for military response as long as the United States has not changed rules of how to interact with the Iranian forces.
`We will exercise prudence but it doesn’t mean that if the United States changed the rules of the game. or changed the rules of engagement. it would be able to get away with that.
“If the United States wanted to continue to observe the rules of engagement. the rules of the game. the channels of communication. the prevailing protocols. then in spite of the fact that we consider US presence in the Persian Gulf as inherently destabilizing. we’re not going to take any action.“ Zarif said.
Touching upon the regional developments. Zarif said Iran will remain “vigilant“ in Syria and Iraq. “And we will not simply abandon that. that fight.`
Also about the US anti-Iran sanctions. the foreign minister said “I mean there are always ways of going around the sanctions. We have a PhD in that area.`
When Trump reinstated unilateral sanctions on Tehran on November 5. 2018. and imposed as he claimed the “highest level“ of economic bans on the Islamic Republic of Iran. he granted sanctions waiver for Iran`s oil imports till May. meanwhile. he has recently announced that he will end exemptions for oil importers.
Many world leaders and nations have expressed criticism over Trump`s unilateral decision against other countries.
Elsewhere in his remarks. Zarif said oil sanctions will hurt ordinary Iranians and the government would do whatever it could to sell oil to meet the citizens` needs. Asked whom are to be considered by Iran to sell oil. Zarif said “If I told you. we won’t be able to sell it to them.“
