TEHRAN- Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani has evaluated the meeting between the prosecutors of Iran and Azerbaijan and the efforts to resolve ties between the two countries as positive, adding that a roadmap has been prepared to reopen the Azeri embassy in Iran.

Azerbaijan announced on January 30 that it was suspending activity of its embassy in Tehran. The decision followed days after a gunman stormed the diplomatic center killing one guard and wounding two others. Iran has said the attack was motivated by personal reasons but Baku labeled it an act of terrorism.

"The operation of Azerbaijan's embassy in Iran has been temporarily suspended following the evacuation of its staff and their family members from Iran," Azerbaijani foreign ministry spokesman Ayxan Hacizada said. "That doesn't mean that diplomatic ties had been severed," he said, adding that Baku's consulate general in the Iranian city of Tabriz was "up and running".

“U.S. in no position to hold others accountable”

At a weekly news briefing on Monday, Kanaani also rejected as “worthless” U.S. charges that Iran is intensifying tensions on the high seas, asserting that Washington is “in no position” to make such claims against Tehran because it is engaged in Israel’s genocidal onslaught on the Gaza Strip.

He made the comments in response to the Pentagon’s allegations that an Iranian attack drone had targeted a chemical tanker that had been sailing in the Indian Ocean.

Kanaani blamed the U.S. for the commencement of the Gaza conflict on October 7 and its continuance, noting that its policies and backing for Israel have incited intentional communities’ resentment toward itself.

“We reject their (the Americans’) worthless claims, which clearly are politically motivated and are a blame game aimed at covering up the U.S.’s crimes in Gaza,” he added.

“Iran has always ensured security in high seas, acted responsibly, and played an important role in maritime security and international trade through waters. Therefore, the U.S. and no other parties are in a position to accuse Iran.”

In an interview with The Sunday Telegraph, UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron has claimed Iran “is a thoroughly malign influence in the region and the world.” 

In response, Kanaani maintained that Britain is morally and legally unable to make allegations against Iran and other parties in the region since it has always contributed significantly to the instability and insecurity in the region.

“The UK is itself a defendant over the Gaza war, and of course, the country must be held accountable for its past and present actions concerning its role in establishing and supporting the Zionist regime as the most hated terrorist organization in the region,” he continued.

Iran's top priority is ending war crimes in Gaza

The diplomat stated that Iran is in communication with all concerned parties over the Palestine issues and that its primary objective is to put a stop to the Israeli crimes in Gaza, making reference to discussions between the Palestinian Hamas resistance group, Turkey, and Qatar.

He added, “Dealing with secondary issues, especially the solutions proposed by the United States, are distracting.” 

“No one other than the Palestinian nation deserves to decide for itself,” the spokesman pointed out, adding, “Iran’s top priority is to end the crimes of the Zionist regime and ensure the immediate dispatch of aid [to Gaza].” 

Israeli attack in Gaza “strategic error”

Israel launched a cruel war on the Gaza Strip on October 7, which is continuing until this hour. The attack followed a surprise attack by the Hamas resistance group on southern Israel. Israel has violated all the laws of war on the strip, committing indescribable atrocities that the UN officials have said are sadistic.   

Kanaani said the Israeli regime committed a “strategic mistake” in starting war on Gaza and a “bigger strategic mistake” in prolonging its onslaught.

Alluding to the 33-war in 2006 in which Hezbollah defeated Israel, Kanaani underlined that “the regime must understand that what it did against Lebanon in 2006 turned the resistance into a decisive power there. The same situation will be in Gaza and the resistance will emerge victorious.”

“Allegations in joint Russian-Arab statement is against Iran’s sovereignty”

Asked about the recent joint statement by several Arab countries and Russia on Iran’s three Persian Gulf islands, Kanaani said that Iran considers “unacceptable” claims in the statement an “action against its sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

When asked about Iran’s relations with Egypt, he stated that the two nations are on the right track to begin a new chapter in their relationship.

“Harsh punishment”

He further said that a “cruel” sentence against former Iranian official Hamid Nouri does not mean the end of Iran’s efforts to secure his release.

Nouri was detained and imprisoned upon arriving at Stockholm Airport in November 2019.

The former judicial official was put on trial on baseless claims made by elements of the MKO terrorist group, which has publicly boasted about its terrorist operations against Iranian officials and citizens.

Nouri has fiercely denied the terrorist group’s unfounded allegations that he was complicit in the 1988 death and torture of MKO members.

Nouri was given a life sentence by a Swedish court in July of last year. The Stockholm Court of Appeals affirmed Nouri’s life sentence a few days ago.

The Swedish court’s decision against Nouri has been denounced by Iran as “fundamentally unacceptable.”

Tel Aviv rulers putting a nail in the coffin of Zionist regime 

The spokesman also reacted to the Zionist regime’s threatening language to Lebanon, saying, “The Lebanese authorities announced what was related to Lebanon.”

The Zionist regime either does not understand its complex situation or is trying to buy time, he said, adding that every day that the regime continues to fight, it not only hammers new nails into the coffin of its soldiers but also into the coffin of the Zionist regime.

Iran wishes to keep Arash gas field issue out of media spotlight

Kanaani was asked about Iran’s rights to the Arash natural gas field in the Persian Gulf, stating that Tehran preferred to keep the issue out of the media spotlight and handle it via dialogue with Kuwait.

“The issue was raised in the meetings between the two (Iranian and Kuwaiti) foreign ministers, and discussions were held in Geneva in this regard,” he stated.

He highlighted Iran’s policy of developing friendly relations with neighboring countries, saying that publicizing the technical issues concerning the gas field will only result in more complications.

“Technical discussions in this regard have been held during a time span and there are technical and legal considerations that we will continue in this framework,” the spokesman added.

Astana talks

On potential Astana meetings on the Syrian events, Kanaani also said that he was unsure of the exact location and date of any future conference, but that Iran and Turkiye have addressed the Astana talks as one of their concerns. 

The deputy foreign minister of Turkey visited Iran recently, and during his visit, Kanaani said, the two countries addressed several matters, including the Astana negotiations on Syria.