Ghasemi: US Positions on Iran's Missile Tests Are Not Important

Bahram Ghasemi, the spokesperson for Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated on Monday, February 6, that the US positions regarding Iran's "internal and missile issues" are not significant, saying, "The missile discussion pertains to the government, sovereignty, and people of Iran, and we do not need to consult or talk with others." In a press conference, Ghasemi added, "We decide for ourselves about Iran's interests and needs, and we neither need consultation nor discussions with others." Since Donald Trump came to power in the United States, especially after Iran conducted a ballistic missile test on January 30, the verbal conflict between the two sides has intensified. Trump has repeatedly warned Iran not to "play with fire." On February 3, he emphasized that "Iran was on its knees and collapsing, but the US saved it with the nuclear deal." Trump also tweeted on Friday that Iran "does not realize how kind President Obama was to them; I am not like that." Michael Pence, Trump's vice president, has also warned Iran, stating that it should look at the calendar and realize that a new president is in the White House. In an interview with ABC News aired on Sunday, he emphasized that Iran should not doubt the seriousness of the new US president. Michael Flynn, Trump's national security advisor, also warned on Friday that the US government will no longer tolerate Iran's provocative actions that threaten US interests, stating that "the days of ignoring Iran's hostile and aggressive actions against the US and the international community are over." Meanwhile, Bahram Ghasemi pointed out that the new US government is still "far from full establishment," adding, "The government does not exist as an established government in the expected acceptable form." Regarding the statements of US officials, Ghasemi said, "Contradictory statements are being made that do not align with each other. Some statements are unfriendly, hostile, and even threatening, and we are not surprised by that. It is not very important to us." Ghasemi noted that "realities will reveal themselves in due time and impose conditions on others," adding, "We are waiting for the situation to advance a bit further to have a more precise and better assessment of the US government." He emphasized that "we must be patient and not speak hastily," adding, "Let us wait and see how the US government intends to act regarding its internal issues, Europe, and the world, which has created chaos. We must be patient, speak less, and observe more." The spokesperson for Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs added, "We do not need to test them, and Trump's actions have gone beyond testing; we have a precise and deep understanding of the counterpart, and what happens is based on the planning that has been done." According to Jam-e Jam Online, he stated on November 10 that Trump's remarks about engaging with the world depend on the passage of time, saying, "We must wait and see how these expectations will be implemented in practice." Kamal Kharrazi, head of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, also stated in an interview with the Jamaran website on December 24 that "it is too early to comment on Trump's positions," adding, "We are prepared for any developments that may occur." Nevertheless, a significant number of Iranian political and military officials have recently launched harsh verbal attacks against the US president and his policies and views.