Esmaeil Baghaei, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic, reacted to threats and statements made by Donald Trump on social media, saying the ministry prefers to focus on ongoing negotiations and developments on the ground rather than replying to “tweets.”
He said, “If we were to respond to tweets, we wouldn’t get to more important matters. We have more critical tasks at hand.” Baghaei also claimed that the current focus of the negotiations is strictly on “ending the war,” and that no discussions regarding the details of the nuclear dossier are taking place at this stage.
In another part of his remarks, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated that the fees collected from ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz are meant for ensuring safe passage, navigation services, and environmental protection, and should not be considered “tolls.” He further emphasized that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Oman, as the littoral states bordering the strait, “must” collect fees from transiting vessels.
Baghaei also announced that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s planned trip to New York has been canceled, attributing the decision to “the overall circumstances” and “issues related to the issuance of U.S. visas.”
