Response to Obama's Article: Threat of Attack Leads to International Responsibility

The spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry dismissed the comments made in Barack Obama's article 'against the Islamic Republic' as 'baseless' and emphasized that 'the threat of military attack is contrary to the United Nations Charter and incurs international responsibility for the U.S. government and officials.' Barack Obama, the President of the United States, has published an article simultaneously in 30 major American publications as part of his relentless efforts to persuade public opinion in the U.S., especially Congress members. In his article, Mr. Obama reiterates that the rejection of the Iran nuclear agreement will lead to war with the Islamic Republic. In response to Mr. Obama's statements, Marzieh Afkham, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, stated on Saturday, August 31, that the Islamic Republic 'will not accept any limitations in defending itself in political, military, and security arenas.' According to the state news agency IRNA, she added: 'The threat of military attack is against the Charter and principles of the United Nations and incurs international responsibility for the U.S. government and officials.' Mr. Obama emphasized in his article that with the Vienna nuclear agreement, 'the pathways for the Iranian government to acquire nuclear weapons are closed off by implementing tough and new conditions.' However, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson described the 'accusations and claims made against the Islamic Republic of Iran' in the U.S. President's article as 'baseless' and rejected them. She characterized such statements from U.S. officials as 'repetitive claims' that, according to her, are 'aligned with the interests' of Israel and made to 'satisfy the lobbies' supporting this country, indicating doubt and the depth of confusion among American officials in prioritizing their national interests. Ms. Afkham emphasized that U.S. foreign policy is 'heavily trapped in political and partisan rivalries' within the country. She added: 'The common ground between war hawks and self-proclaimed diplomats in America relies on delusional and dangerous ideas and fear-mongering that has so far incurred irreparable costs and damages for the world and is today one of the main roots of international insecurity.' Ms. Afkham's statements on Saturday were the second reaction from the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson to the U.S. President's remarks in the past two weeks. On Thursday, August 22, she also called the U.S. President's request for 'change in Iran's policy and leadership' 'repetitive' and deemed the U.S. approach to 'independent nations' in need of 'change and transformation.' Barack Obama, on Monday, August 19, in an interview with a website, called for 'change in Iran's policy and leadership' and a change in 'the rhetoric and behavior' of Iran's leaders and their approach to other countries in the world. Following the Vienna nuclear agreement, U.S. government officials have continued to criticize the Islamic Republic's policies in the region and issues such as the actions of the Quds Force, the Islamic Republic's support for Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Iran's human rights situation. U.S. officials have also repeatedly emphasized that the agreement reached in the Vienna negotiations did not eliminate military options against Iran. In response to these statements, officials from Hassan Rouhani's government have called for a change in U.S. policies towards Iran. Among them, Mohammad Javad Zarif, the Iranian Foreign Minister, emphasized on August 15 that the U.S.'s 'wrong' policies towards Iran have 'yielded no results' and that now is an 'exceptional opportunity' to 'test a new path.'