Iran will not allow foreign powers to determine its political future: envoy

Hujjat-ul-Islam Mohammad-Hossein Mokhtari made the remarks in an interview with Italian newspaper L’Interferenza, where he discussed the geopolitical consequences of recent US attacks against Iran.

Mokhtari said the US military strikes might have a limited short-term impact on the regional military balance, but would ultimately increase regional nations’ distrust of the American military presence once stability is restored.

He stressed that lasting security in West Asia could not be established through bombing, threats or military pressure, arguing instead that it required dialogue, respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries, and the establishment of an inclusive security system involving regional states.

The Iranian cleric described Washington’s strategy as a continuation of a longstanding policy pursued through new tools and methods. He said the United States had, over the past decades, used comprehensive support for the Israeli regime, economic sanctions, political pressure, and military intervention and presence in the region to advance its objectives.

Mokhtari also pointed to the coordination between US and Israeli actions in the region, saying Israeli aggression could not be assessed separately from US political and military support.

He warned that the continuation of US and Israeli military aggression could push the region into a prolonged war of attrition, whose consequences would extend beyond the battlefield and potentially alter the economic and geopolitical structures of West Asia.

The ambassador highlighted the importance of regional stability for global energy security and trade, saying continued disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz as a result of what he described as US warmongering could affect energy prices, transportation routes, investment and supply chains, while also putting pressure on global economic growth.

“Iran’s message is clear: West Asia is no longer willing to bear the costs of foreign powers’ adventurism,” Mokhtari said, warning that if aggression continued, its consequences would not be limited to Iran but would affect the security and economic structures of the entire region and even the global economy.

He stressed that Iran was not seeking war but would not remain passive in the face of imposed war and aggression.

Responding to a question about US President Donald Trump’s claim that Washington controls the Strait of Hormuz, Mokhtari said the assertion appeared to be more part of an effort by Washington to portray a strategic achievement and manage the domestic political costs of the war than a reflection of the complex realities on the ground.

He added that growing public pressure on the US administration, particularly ahead of the midterm elections, could encourage Washington to highlight military achievements and attribute problems resulting from the war to external factors.

Addressing Iran’s domestic political developments following the US and Israeli attacks, Mokhtari said one of the clearest realities was the shared experience of the Iranian people in defending the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity against foreign aggression.

Mokhtari further said the experience of the imposed war and recent developments had shown that foreign pressure was not only an ineffective means of imposing political objectives but could also strengthen society’s sensitivity toward national independence and sovereignty.

Asked about the “Mecca Convention” and military cooperation among Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, Mokhtari said Iran had no principled objection to any regional security mechanism that strengthened cooperation among regional countries and reduced their dependence on powers outside the region.

He stressed that the Muslim world should not become an arena for confrontation among regional powers and that West Asian security could not be guaranteed through the creation of new military blocs.

Instead, he said, regional security should be developed independently of foreign powers, on the basis of mutual respect among Muslim countries and through the establishment of an inclusive regional security system.