Iran says US only tries to protect Israel, does not care about regional countries

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said at a Monday press conference that the United States "does not care at all" about the welfare, security and peace of regional countries and only makes utmost efforts to protect the Israeli regime.

“Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei says the security of regional states does not matter to the United States as it only makes utmost efforts to protect the Israeli regime”

PressTV

He argued the US military presence in the region "does not bring security and stability but only spreads insecurity, causes rifts among regional countries and fuels discord."

PressTV

He called on regional states not to allow the US to abuse their territory and facilities, framing that demand as grounded in international law.

Baghaei said the US and the Israeli regime launched a joint military aggression on Iran on February 28, some eight months after they attacked the country in June last year.

He condemned a US attack on the frigate IRIS Dena as a crime with no legal justification.

PressTV

The article states the attack occurred 'hundreds of miles across the Indian Ocean - off the southern coast of Sri Lanka'.

It says 'Frigate IRIS Dena was torpedoed and sunk by a US submarine on Wednesday.'

Iran’s Army said 136 personnel were aboard, 104 of whom lost their lives and 32 were injured.

Sri Lanka’s deputy foreign minister said the ship was heading back to Iran from an eastern Indian port after participating in the 'Milan 2026' naval exercise.

Baghaei said the Dena strike violated the Hague Convention, the London Statement and Article 10 of the Additional Protocol to the 1977 Convention.

He said Iran has notified relevant international organizations and will follow necessary legal measures.

Baghaei reiterated that Iran’s Armed Forces remain committed to humanitarian principles and morality.

“Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei says the security of regional states does not matter to the United States as it only makes utmost efforts to protect the Israeli regime”

PressTV

He accused the "opposite side" of targeting Iranian civilians and of striking oil storage facilities and an oil production transfer center in Tehran and Alborz, calling those attacks "a crime against humanity and the environment" that "can even be listed as a genocidal crime."

He said US-Israeli strikes have shifted toward economic targets, causing significant fires, environmental concerns, casualties and "thick choking black smoke" over Tehran.

He rejected claims that Iran fired missiles into Azerbaijan, Turkey and Cyprus, and stressed Iran’s principle of neighborliness and respect for sovereignty.

He warned that if "American terrorists" use the soil, airspace, or facilities of neighboring countries to attack Iran, those countries will be considered legitimate targets for Iran.

He urged regional governments to exercise patience and avoid prejudgment.