Exclusive: Iran urges Italy to pressure USA to desist from 'bellicose behaviour,' says ready to play 'positive role' in Lebanon

 ROME – Iran urged Italy Saturday to encourage the United States to respect the principles of international law and desist from ”bellicose behaviour” and said Tehran is “ready to play a positive role” in Lebanon if European countries put pressure on Israel to end attacks and “destabilising actions” on Lebanese territory.

 “Countries like Italy can contribute usefully to the reduction of tensions by adopting balanced positions and encouraging their allies – in particular the United States – to respect the principles of international law, to avoid conflictual approaches and not to repeat bellicose behaviour,” the Iranian Ambassador,  Mohammed Reza Sabouri, to Italy told the Italian Insider.  The interview, released as the United States and Iran began peace talks in Islamabad, is the fullest public statement yet by an Iranian official after the U.S. Israeli attack on Iran.

 Asked if Iran would use its influence with Hezbollah to protect Italian peacekeeping troops stationed in southern Lebanon, the Iranian envoy said: “Iran supports the stability of Lebanon and is ready to play a positive role. However, the security of the international forces requires a realistic analysis of the threats. It is important to avoid distorted interpretations – the principal threats to the peace-keeping forces come, according to Iranian evaluation, from the actions of the Zionist regime.”

 “European countries need to focus on the main causes of insecurity and increase pressure on Israel to halt the attacks and destabilising actions.”

 Asked how Iran viewed the outcome of the war with the United States and Israel, the ambassador said “before any analysis of the results of this war, it is necessary to pay attention to its origin and way that it started. The Islamic Republic of Iran did not initiate the conflict, but acted in the context of its intrinsic right to legitimate defence to protect its national sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of illegal and illegitimate aggression by the United States and the Zionist regime.”

 “Iran, trusting to solid popular support and the capacity of its armed forces, succeeded in containing and throwing back this aggression. If the war imposed significant costs on the population and infrastructure of the country, the main result has been to reinforce national will in the face of external pressures.”

 “The Islamic Republic of Iran not only did not surrender, but succeeded in obliging the other side to review its calculations and return to the diplomatic path. From this point of view, one can say that Iran’s fundamental objectives – that is to say safeguarding independence and national dignity – have been achieved.”

 Asked what Iran’s international objectives are now, the Iranian ambassador held out an olive branch to GCC countries, saying: “the fundamental priority of the Islamic Republic of Iran on the international scene is to ensure peace and the reinforcement of stability, in particular in the regional context and in neighbouring countries.

 “Alongside this approach, the pursuit of national interests, the development of balanced economic and political cooperation and the determined defence of sovereignty and territorial integrity against any threat represent the constant pillars of Iranian foreign policy.”

 “While remaining faithful to its principles, Iran welcomes constructive inter-action, multilateralism and the use of diplomatic capacities to resolve disputes," the Iranian Ambassador said. The emissary responded in writing in Italian to questions submiitted to the Embassy in English by the Insider. Asked what lessons Iran learned from the war, the ambassador said “one of the most important lessons … is the need to reconsider the level of trust toward some international actors. The United States launched a second offensive just when negotiations in Geneva were near to concrete results. This act sent a clear message on the fragility of commitments and the need for prudence in diplomatic relations.”

 According to the declarations of the Omani foreign ministry, the possibility to reach an agreement existed but the preference for the military way … gravely weakened the existing trust. In such conditions the Islamic Republic of Iran while maintaining an active and serious approach in negotiations and welcoming peaceful solutions, will continue to reinforce constantly its capacity for deterrence and its defensive preparations as an inevitable necessity.”

 Asked why Iran had attacked GCC countries, the ambassador said: “It is necessary to distinguish clearly the objectives of operations. The military action by the Islamic Republic of Iran was directed against the bases and resources of the United States in the region, not against the countries of the Gulf. These bases were the point of departure for attacks against Iran – in particular the attack on a girls’ school at Minab and infrastructure – and naturally they were hit according to the right of legitimate defence.”

 “On the basis of article 51 of the United Nations charter, Iran considers it legitimate to defend itself against aggressions and hostile acts. At the same time, before the start of hostilities, the Islamic Republic of Iran had warned the countries of the region, through diplomatic channels and direct communications, not to allow the use of their territory for military actions against Iran. This approach shows Iran’s wish to avoid the exapansion of the crisis and to preserve regional stability,” the Iranian ambassador said.

 Italy can play a role in helping to achieve a peace agreement for the Gulf, the emissary said.

 “Countries such as Italy can contribute effectively to the reduction of tensions adopting balanced positions and encouraging their allies – in particular the United States – to respect the principles of international law, to avoid conflictual approaches and not to repeat bellicose behaviour.”

 The full text of the interview as translated into Italian and released to the Insider by the Iranian Embassy can be read here: https://www.italianinsider.it/?q=node/14038

 jp