Iran says the shadow of war must be permanently lifted 

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has emphasized the necessity of ensuring that the threat of war is permanently removed from the country, while also warning against allowing enemies to initiate aggression at will and then seek cessation only when faced with high costs.

Speaking in an interview with the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) News Network aired on Thursday, ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei stressed the importance of utilizing every available resource and leverage point in the region to their maximum potential.

He noted that Iranians, due to their inherent nobility and honor, have often exercised restraint in employing the tools at their disposal.

"In a region and a world where, unfortunately, treachery and malice have become the norm, we have displayed nobility," he stated.

Baghaei highlighted the high costs Iran has borne, particularly during the recent period of aggression.

"Consider just these past 10 or 11 days. We have sacrificed our most courageous sons in the face of this unprecedented military aggression. People's properties have been damaged, and our compatriots have been continuously exposed to missiles and bombs from two lawless regimes," Baghaei said.

He said every moment of this period must be remembered to ensure that the sacrifices and incurred costs translate into the best possible outcomes in the post-conflict future.

"There is a consensus that we must act in such a way that the shadow of war is permanently removed from the country," Baghaei asserted.

"We must not allow our enemies to simply continue their aggressions, starting them whenever they wish, and then raising their hands to declare a halt only when they come under heavy pressure and incur costs."

Separately, Baghaei warned against the potential use of a "false flag" operation by the United States to implicate Iran.

In a post on his X account, Baghaei reacted to a report by the American ABC News network, which alleged that the FBI had warned California police about a possible Iranian drone attack on the US West Coast.

Baghaei questioned the timing and nature of the report. "Is this a prelude to another potential ‘false flag’ incident?" he wrote, adding sardonically, "They already have plenty of copied Iranian drones!"

The ABC News report claimed that the FBI had shared intelligence in early February suggesting that if the United States attacked Iran, Tehran might retaliate by launching a drone strike from an unidentified vessel off the California coast.

The report noted that no further details regarding the timing, method, or potential perpetrators of the alleged plot were provided.

Elsewhere Baghaei stated that while Iran harbors "no hostility toward the nations and countries of the region," it reserves the legitimate right to self-defense if its territory or facilities are used to launch an assault.

"If the soil or resources of certain countries are used to attack Iran, Tehran reserves the right to exercise legitimate defense and target the points from which the aggression originates," Baghaei said.

He added, "If the use of these countries' territory and resources against Iran ceases, our defensive measures will also stop."

The spokesperson also addressed the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, emphasizing that its security is vital for Iran, a nation that has consistently paid a heavy price to protect it.

“The recent insecurities in the region are the result of actions by the United States and Israel, and Iran does not seek the destabilization of the Strait of Hormuz,” he further said.

Baghaei stressed that vessels transiting the strait must coordinate with Iran's naval forces to ensure the safety of shipping.

In other remarks, he noted that the US military presence in the region is a source of instability.

He stated that allowing the use of regional countries' territory to attack another Muslim nation is "by no means defensible.”

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