‘Israel is inherently anti-peace’: Iran warns Israel’s recognition of Somaliland aims at destabilizing region

Iran has again condemned the Israeli regime’s self-described recognition of Somaliland, calling the move “fundamentally baseless and meaningless” and part of a broader strategy aimed at destabilizing the region.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei made the remarks during a press conference on Monday, noting that no one had endorsed the move and stressing that recognizing a part of an independent country and a portion of Somalia’s territory lacked any legal or political foundation.

The official said the action, taken by an entity that itself suffered from illegitimacy, was intended to fragment Muslim countries, accelerate regional disintegration, and leave the region more vulnerable to Israeli ambitions and acts of aggression.

He pointed to statements by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Arab League, and the African Union, all of which had explicitly rejected the so-called recognition.

Baghaei added that there was no basis for such an action within the United Nations system or under international law, particularly as far as respect for territorial integrity and national sovereignty was concerned.

According to the official, the issue went beyond an attempt to separate a part of an independent Muslim country, but rather, it was part of a wider strategy to destabilize a broad geographical area spanning West Asia, the Horn of Africa, and the Red Sea.

Baghaei concluded by expressing hope that the development would serve as a wake-up call for countries in the region and beyond, underscoring the Islamic Republic’s view that the Israeli regime’s actions were "inherently anti-peace" and aimed at fostering tension, division, and conflict throughout the region.

The regime announced its recognition of the self-declared Republic of Somaliland as a “sovereign state” on Friday, inviting sweeping international criticism.

Israeli warmongering: ‘Iran can overcome any challenge’

Baghaei, meanwhile, underlined that the Zionist regime sought a “defenseless” region, but declared, at the same time, that the regional nations now saw eye to eye concerning the fact that “the only way to achieve lasting peace and stability is to restrain the Zionist regime.”

Fielding a question about the likelihood of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s presenting US President Donald Trump with a new plan for attacking Iran during a pending White House meeting, he asserted that the Islamic Republic would not be swayed by psychological warfare, and that the country’s Armed Forces were fully focused on strengthening their capabilities.

“With the support of the Iranian nation, we will, God willing, successfully overcome any challenge,” he noted.

“Iran’s power and strength stem from its people and from all of its national assets; therefore, we rely on our internal strength, and we have demonstrated this in practice as well.”

‘Negotiation not realistic when circumstances not ripe’

The official addressed reports about Iraq’s proposing mediation between Iran and the US, saying the Islamic Republic appreciated Baghdad’s concern for regional matters.

However, “initiation of any negotiation process requires the parties’ adherence to the norms of negotiation, taking into account the experience of the past five or six months.”

The official was referring to Washington’s using diplomacy as cover, during the most recent bout of indirect negotiations with Tehran, to pave the way for Israeli-American attacks on the Islamic Republic.

“As long as this prerequisite is not met, speaking of the formation of a negotiation process cannot be considered particularly realistic.”

The Islamic Republic, though, he added, has always been committed to diplomacy, and would not hesitate to apply it whenever it determines the tool to be effective and efficient.

‘Iran’s diplomats in Venezuela retain duties’

Baghaei dismissed reports about the departure of Iranian diplomats from Venezuela, saying the Islamic Republic’s ambassador and staff of the Iranian Embassy were, as always, diligently carrying out their duties.

“Our embassy is very active. Claims about the withdrawal of Iran’s embassy or its staff are merely part of a psychological war that we ourselves have faced in recent months.”

‘Preservation of Yemen’s territorial integrity, unity a principle for Iran’

The spokesman underscored the importance Iran attached to the preservation of Yemen’s territorial integrity and unity.

“We believe that any process that undermines Yemen’s territorial integrity would merely serve the interests and ambitions of the Zionist regime and would jeopardize the security of the entire region.”

He stressed the importance of intra-Yemeni dialogue to the stabilization of the situation across the Arab Peninsula nation, saying Tehran would not withhold any assistance that could contribute to the establishment of such interaction.

‘Respect for the One-China principle Iran’s consistent position’

Baghaei commented on the US’s recent large-scale arms sales to Taiwan, saying respect for the One-China policy, which the transaction had clearly violated, contrastively formed a “principled position of the Islamic Republic.”

“Iran will not change this position under any circumstances,” he said, declaring that the US actions merely provoked and escalated tensions among regional countries and were in no way being carried out in good faith.

‘Iran-Russia relations in no way directed against any third country’

Regarding recent statements by Ukrainian officials that Iran had played no role in missile production for Russia, the spokesperson noted that this admission had already been made by the Ukrainian president himself several months ago.

Baghaei cited Volodymyr Zelensky as confirming that Kiev had no evidence of Iran sending missiles to Russia, saying relations between Tehran and Moscow were longstanding, based on mutual interests and respect, and in no way directed against any third country.

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