On May 11, Esmail Baghaei, spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, emphasized during a press conference that "our demands are not excessive and are entirely justified." He made it clear that the release of Iranian assets frozen in foreign banks is a prerequisite for any negotiations.
Baghaei characterized the U.S. seizure of Iranian oil tankers as "piracy," asserting, "The U.S. must stop its illegal economic blockade and acts of piracy and cease its warlike behavior." In response to U.S. demands for the complete opening of the Strait of Hormuz as a condition for ending hostilities, he noted that Iran has also proposed measures to ensure safe navigation and regional security in the strait.
He stated, "Ensuring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz and establishing security in the region and Lebanon are additional demands from Iran, which should be seen as generous and responsible proposals for regional security." He criticized the U.S. for continuing to make unilateral claims.
However, Iran has left the door open for diplomacy. Baghaei remarked, "We will fight whenever we are forced to, but we will seize every opportunity for diplomacy when it arises." He added, "However, diplomacy has its own rules, and decisions will be based on our national interests. Iran has proven its commitment to protecting the interests of its people."
Previously, President Donald Trump expressed his disapproval of Iran's response to the proposal on his social media platform, Truth Social, stating, "I do not like this. It is completely unacceptable."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.