Iranian Deputy FM for Political Affairs Ali Bagheri’s press conference in Tokyo December 18 2023

At the start of his remarks Bagheri referred to the diverse possibilities of Iran and Japan and described the two countries as two main pillars of stability in Asia.

At the start of his remarks, Bagheri referred to the diverse possibilities of Iran and Japan and described the two countries as two main pillars of stability in Asia.

The Iranian deputy foreign minister further spoke about the significance of joint efforts by Tehran and Tokyo to boost regional and international peace and stability, saying Iran, which sits on one of the world’s largest reserves of energy resources, and Japan, as an industrial power, need each other equally.

He added that in the meetings he is going to have with Japanese officials in the next two days, the two sides will make an effort o discuss ways of expanding bilateral ties.  

Elsewhere, Bagheri underscored that the crime against the people of Gaza, just as the UN secretary general has rightly said, is both a threat to international peace and security and overt genocide.

He added that international players should use their full power to stop the genocide in Gaza so that the crimes there come to an end and they should end the cruel siege on the people of Gaza.

Bagheri stressed that aid deliveries to Gaza must begin unconditionally and the Zionist regime’s forced displacement of people from Gaza must be dealt with.

The Iranian deputy foreign minister said only the Palestinian people can and should decide their future, adding that the Palestinian people do not need guardians.

“If we want to establish peace and stability in the West Asia region, the views and priorities of the Palestinian people must serve as the basis, because the absence of the Palestinian people in determining their fate is the missing link in the plans and models meant to solve the Palestinian issue, which has not realized in 75 years", stressed Bagheri.

He said for once, the world should care for the views of the Palestinian people and let them decide their future, and the Islamic Republic of Iran supports any effort to this end.

In response to journalists, Bagheri said the Yemeni government has declared that it will try to prevent aid deliveries to Israel as long as the Zionists continue to commit crimes against the people of Gaza.

He went on to say that the Yemenis are an independent actor in the international arena, acting based on their own judgment and therefore it is not right to link their actions to others.

In response to a question about Iran's expectations from Japan regarding the Gaza war, Bagheri described as important, Japan's vote on the UN General Assembly resolution, demanding an end to the invasion of Gaza.

He said naturally, the Japanese government, given its international role and position, wants the war in Gaza to stop, so Iran expects other countries to reconsider their relations with Israel as long as the Zionist regime continues to commit crimes against the people of Gaza.

He added that just as Japan rightly voted for the UNGA resolution, it can use its other international capacities to put an end to the genocide in Gaza.

As for a question regarding the operation by Hamas and other resistance groups on October 7, Bagheri said that Hamas's action on that day did not happen in a vacuum.

He added that the move came after 75 years of occupation, aggression, crimes and illegal acts by the Zionists.

The Iranian deputy foreign minister also said what happened on October 7 came 16 years after the Zionist regime imposed an inhumane and cruel siege against the Gaza Strip and after the arrest and imprisonment of about six thousand Palestinians by the Zionists.

Bagheri asked, “What nation exists on earth that has to take refuge in a tunnel to live? Who was a fighter pilot or tank driver among the Palestinian women and children killed in the last 2 months?”

He went on to say, “What we are witnessing in Gaza today is a crime against humanity and full-scale genocide, and the crime of the people of Gaza is that they want to defend their existence, identity and dignity as a nation”.

 

In response to a question regarding the degradation of the US position in the world and

the new world order, Bagheri said after the end of the war in Gaza, the world will definitely witness a new strategic, political and security map in which resistance will exist as an undeniable player.

“Resistance is a main and undeniable pillar of stability in the region and will be present and play its role throughout the region”, the Iranian deputy foreign minister reaffirmed.