Iran Warns NATO Against Gulf Involvement, Links Talks to Frozen Assets

TEHRAN, Iran — Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated on Monday that any NATO activity in the Gulf region would further complicate the current security situation. He criticized the stance of European nations regarding recent regional developments. Baghaei emphasized that the release of Iran’s frozen financial assets remains a fundamental requirement for ongoing negotiations. During his weekly press briefing, he defended Iran's recent military actions as acts of legitimate self-defense, targeting facilities used against the country. He further alleged that certain regional nations have provided their infrastructure for use by the United States and Israel. Baghaei also claimed that the ceasefire in Lebanon has been violated and criticized the international community's response to the situation in Palestine. Regarding recent diplomatic efforts, Baghaei described the visit of an Iranian negotiation delegation to Qatar as both positive and productive.