Israel ‘absolute evil’, much closer to defeat than victory: Iran

The spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry says the continuation of Israel’s crimes and its excessive demands in the recent ceasefire negotiations indicate that the regime is much closer to defeat than "victory".

“The Israeli regime is a cancerous tumor and the focal and central core of the axis of malice in the region,” Nasser Kan’ani said at his weekly press briefing on Monday.

He added that Israel’s heinous crimes against the people of Palestine in the Gaza Strip and recently in the West Bank have incurred global wrath.

He reiterated Iran’s legal, moral and human commitment to support Palestine and emphasized that moves by the Israeli regime to attribute any incident to the Islamic Republic is “definitely rhetoric and a desperate attempt to hide the facts.”

The Iranian spokesman strongly condemned the Israeli regime’s Sunday strikes against several military sites in northwestern Syria with missiles and drones.

“The regime’s attack on regional countries shows that its crimes are not confined to Gaza and it is committing extra-regional crimes,” Kan’ani said.

He urged Israel’s supporters to stop arming and supporting this regime, saying international organizations are needed to seriously condemn the Tel Aviv regime’s crimes and take firm and deterrent moves to counter them.

Israel launches strikes on Syrian military sites

Syria’s air defenses intercept a number of Israeli missiles as the regime’s new airstrikes on Hama province kill several people and injure nearly 20 others.

Syrian media said on Sunday that at least 14 people were killed in the attacks that targeted the city of Hama. Syrian officials said several of those injured are in critical condition.

The Syrian Defense Ministry said the country’s air defense system managed to intercept and shoot down some of the incoming missiles.

Israel ‘absolute evil regime’ in region

Referring to a shooting operation by a Jordanian truck driver at a border crossing bridge that resulted in the killing of three Israelis, Kan’ani said Israel is the absolute evil regime in the region.

He noted that the Israeli regime’s criminal acts have resulted in a human awakening.

'Enhanced ties with East top priority'

Kan’ani further said the expansion of ties with Eastern and Asian countries will remain among Iran’s top priorities, adding that the new Iranian administration seeks to implement the agreements previously signed and will draw up new documents for cooperation in this regard.

He noted that Iran’s Foreign Ministry will firmly pursue the development of ties with China and Russia based on the common will of Iran and its partners to serve mutual interests.

“Iran is located in a complex region and we consider regional cooperation to be the best way to resolve misunderstandings. The development of relations with the East and Asia is not tantamount to overlooking the improvement of ties with other countries that want friendly relations with Iran,” Kan’ani emphasized.

‘Iran vigorously opposes any border changes’

The spokesperson warned against foreign plots to destabilize the region and said Iran resolutely opposes any move aimed at making border and geopolitical changes.

Iran attaches importance to the removal of obstacles in the connecting routes between Azerbaijan and Armenia and strongly supports the advancement of the 3+3 format cooperation mechanism, Kan’ani added.

Iran resolutely opposes any border, geopolitical changes: FM Araghchi

The Iranian foreign minister once again reiterated Tehran’s resolute opposition to any border and geopolitical change in various regions.

In line with its neighborliness policy, he noted, Iran supports sustainable peace in the South Caucasus which can help improve endurable peace across the region.

‘New agreement with West possible’

Kan’ani once again reaffirmed Iran’s clear stance on a new agreement with the West to revive the 2015 nuclear agreement, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

A new agreement can be reached if all sides to the deal return to their commitments, he said, expressing regret that the European signatories hindered a multilateral diplomatic path.

He added, “We believe that there is still a diplomatic opportunity for the parties...We are optimistic about future diplomatic efforts.”

‘Iran pursues principled stance on Palestine’

In response to a question about the impact of Iran’s approach towards the Israeli regime on the interaction between Tehran and the European Union, the spokesperson said, “Relations among countries in the international arena have different dimensions with differences of opinion.”

He added that it will be possible for Iran and the European Union to resume cooperation if the bloc has a practical intention and strong will.

“The existence of the Zionist regime deepens instability in the region, and we have clear, precise and principled positions regarding the Palestinian issue,” Kan’ani stated.

Iran believes in 'political approach' to end Ukraine war

Kan’ani pointed to Iran’s clear stance on the developments in Ukraine and said, “It is unfortunate that some parties, who are looking for conflict and war, are leveling accusations against Iran.”

“In the issue of Ukraine, we are not a part of the war and believe in a political strategy to end the war,” he added.

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