Saeed Khatibzadeh, spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, has responded to U.S. threats against Iran over a recent attack on the U.S. embassy in Iraq, reiterating that Iran rejects such attacks on diplomatic missions,
Tehran Times reports. The spokesman said Iran does not want to escalate tensions.
Speaking at a weekly press conference, Khatibzadeh stated, “As I said last week, we fully reject attacks on diplomatic and residential areas. Iran’s diplomatic missions in Iraq had come under attack several times. We condemn and reject what [U.S. President Donald] Trump and [U.S. Secretary of State Mike] Pompeo said. The kind, timing and content of their statements and tweets are dubious and ill-intended. We have made it clear that while we are not after tensions, we will use everything in our power to defend the interest and national security of Iran.”
Last week on Sunday night, the U.S. embassy in Baghdad came under attack after weeks of relative calm. More than 20 rockets landed inside the Green Zone of Baghdad, a heavily fortified district in which the U.S. embassy and other government buildings are located. The U.S. embassy’s C-RAM defense system was activated to intercept the rockets, a move that frightened Baghdad residents. The U.S. blamed the attack on Iran shortly after it happened. Pompeo claimed in a tweet that “Iran-backed” groups were behind the attack.
“Iran-backed militias once again flagrantly and recklessly attacked in Baghdad, wounding Iraqi civilians. The people of Iraq deserve to have these attackers prosecuted. These violent and corrupt criminals must cease their destabilizing actions,” Pompeo tweeted. President Trump also pointed the finger at Iran, warning that he will hold Iran responsible if Americans die in an attack in Iraq.
