Iran blames the US for the latest exchange of fire with Israel

Iran’s Foreign Minister, Esmaeil Baghaei, said on Monday that exchanging fire with Israel would only worsen the “chaotic diplomatic process” with the United States.

He said at a news conference that Tehran exchanged messages with Washington in an atmosphere of “extreme suspicion”.

The minister added that Israel’s actions in Lebanon, whether carried out with the knowledge and consent of the US or not, were aimed at sabotaging diplomacy.

Baghaei said Washington, as a party to the April 8 ceasefire, bears direct responsibility for any violations, including attacks attributed to Israel.

He said the world should be worried about wider regional conflicts.

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“The United States bears direct responsibility for any actions taken by the Israeli Zionist regime regarding violations of regional peace and security against Iran,” he said.

Baghaei noted that the Pakistani interior minister’s visit to Tehran on Sunday was part of efforts to continue indirect exchanges with Washington.

“Separately, Iran will respond to any resolution opposing it at this week’s meeting of the UN nuclear watchdog’s Board of Governors,” he said.

He accused the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, of ignoring the reality of the conflict and having biased political views that harmed the agency’s legitimacy.