Tehran: Anti-Semitism has no place in Iranian culture; nuclear threats strengthen nation’s resolve

Speaking to reporters at his weekly press briefing on Monday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said rhetoric and threats of aggression would not undermine national will, reaffirming Iran’s steadfastness and defensive strength.

He criticized international bodies for failing to take practical measures to counter direct threats.

“It was deeply regrettable that the United Nations, the Security Council and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors have remained silent in the face of direct threats and blatant violations targeting the foundations of peace and the principles of the UN Charter,” he said.

The spokesperson warned about the consequences of normalizing nuclear military threats, emphasizing that the United States was undoubtedly the greatest threat to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

“Making explicit or implicit threats against a country’s nuclear facilities and alluding to the use of specific weapons effectively encourages actors to violate fundamental international treaties,” Baghaei argued.

He noted that Washington was setting a destructive international precedent “whose inevitable consequence will be the collapse of stability and the endangering of collective peace and security for all countries.”

Anti-Semitism is a European phenomenon, not part of Iranian culture

Responding to recent accusations by several Western countries, including Germany, Britain and Australia, about Iran’s alleged role behind anti-Semitic activities, Baghaei said the “phenomenon of anti-Semitism” had no place in Iran or its cultural and civilizational heritage.

He added that anti-Semitism is a “completely historical and European matter” which was not related to Iran’s religion, beliefs, culture or way of life.

The spokesman criticized certain Western countries and media outlets for repeatedly raising “baseless and stereotypical” labels while paying little attention to objective and historical realities.

He further reiterated that the ongoing wave of anger in Europe was linked to crimes and genocide committed by Israel, a regime that deceitfully seeks to pass off its crimes as being committed in the name of Judaism.

“Instead of making accusations against Iran, European capitals had better come to their senses and examine the roots of violence in their own policies and structures,” Baghaei said.

Iran will not tolerate use of neighbors’ territory for attacks

Baghaei said Iran will never remain silent or refrain from a deterrent response if neighboring countries’ territory is used to directly violate its national sovereignty, territorial integrity and the security of its citizens.

He added that some regional countries had not only failed to prevent the US war machine from using their territory, airspace and infrastructure to carry out aggression against Iran, but had, in some cases, encouraged and facilitated the attacks. He urged them to abandon past approaches and mistakes through genuine prudence.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has repeatedly and sincerely declared … that it harbors no hostility or animosity toward any country in the region. We firmly believe that achieving lasting security and stability will be possible only through intra-regional cooperation and collective confidence-building, without foreign interference,” he emphasized.

However, he reiterated Iran’s “fully reasonable, legitimate, and unwavering” demand and expectation that regional countries should never allow their territory, airspace or facilities to be used as a platform for aggression or conspiracies against their major and historic neighbor.

The Foreign Ministry spokesperson stressed that the only genuine initiative on the table is Tehran’s proposal.

He said Iran had received the other side’s views through mediators and added that considerations had been exchanged between the two sides.

“This proposal remains on the table, and the ball is entirely in the United States’ court,” Baghaei added.

Baghaei also said the decision on how to respond to a recent letter from US Vice President JD Vance to the Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Major General Mohsen Rezaei, rested with the SNSC’s chief, who was the letter’s intended recipient.

“However, I emphasize that this letter does not initiate any new initiative, and the basis for any indirect engagement through mediators remains the Islamic Republic of Iran’s seven-stage plan,” he reiterated.

‘Surrender’ has no place in Iranian nation’s lexicon

The spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry further rejected remarks by US officials suggesting that Iranians would soon be forced to surrender, saying the word has no place in the Iranian nation’s vocabulary.

“What does this kind of language even mean? The word ‘surrender’ is simply not in our lexicon,” Baghaei emphasized.

Baghaei stressed that Iran had not been and would not be deceived because it was not its first experience in dealing with US officials.

He said Tehran judged Washington by its actions on the ground rather than its rhetoric.

He added that while Iran monitors various views and voices, the US government’s concrete action remained the decisive factor.

“Contradictory positions and double standards are, above all, indicative of deep confusion within their own governing structure,” the spokesperson emphasized.

Baghaei warns against ‘very dangerous’ normalization of Israeli crimes and killings in Palestine

The spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry warned against the normalization of Israeli crimes and killings in Palestine, saying the continued genocide and occupation remain the root causes of insecurity and instability in the region.

Baghaei slammed inaction by European countries and the international community in the face of Israel’s escalating crimes against people in Gaza and Lebanon following the regime’s elections.

“We are facing an extremely dangerous phenomenon which is the normalization of crime and killing… Every [Palestinian’s] life lost means the destruction of a human life,” he said.

Baghaei emphasized that the United Nations and regional and international bodies, particularly the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), had a responsibility to speak out against the Israeli regime’s crimes.

He noted that Israeli officials were facing arrest warrants, while the International Criminal Court (ICC) was under intense pressure from the United States simply because it had sought to pursue those accused of committing crimes in accordance with its founding statute.