Iran says US policies ‘hindering diplomacy’

The Iranian foreign ministry complained on Monday that US policy against Iran and its support for its ally Israel are hampering progress on diplomatic fronts and aggravating regional crises.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei criticized what he described as Washington's persistent anti-Iran stance. The spokesperson said Monday that the crucial issue remains the administration’s policies.

“The fact is, US hostility against Iran has persisted over the past four years,” he said during his weekly briefing.

The spokesperson conveyed hope that “future American officials would learn from this situation,” and emphasized that “the region and all countries are watching US actions.”

The criticism comes as Iran’s support for proxy groups, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Shia militias in Iraq, the Houthis in Yemen, and factions in Syria, has heightened regional tensions by enabling it to influence and pressure adversaries like Saudi Arabia, Israel, and the US without direct confrontation.

With increased alignment between Israel and Arab states, these proxies are becoming more active, amplifying the risk of broader conflicts and instability throughout the region.

Assassination attempts

Baghaei also dismissed recent US accusations linking Iran to assassination attempts on US officials. He argued that accusations of Iranian involvement in the assassination plot create unnecessary friction.

“This is a form of planting landmines in the complex relations between Iran and the US,” he said. These comments followed the unsealing of charges against an Afghan national acting on instructions from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to assassinate president-elect Donald Trump.

In discussions on international respect, Baghaei said that Iran’s expectations of the US extend beyond rhetoric. “Respect has a specific meaning in international relations. Respect means respecting laws, which is essential for peaceful coexistence between nations,” he added.

On Grossi’s visit

Baghaei’s remarks coincide with IAEA Director General Grossi’s planned visit to Tehran this week.

Discussing Grossi's visit to Tehran, he said: "Consider this trip as part of ongoing interactions and discussions between Iran and the IAEA. As a member of the NPT with a peaceful nuclear program, we have continuous engagements with the agency. These meetings can help improve interactions and cooperation."

Following the US withdrawal from the JCPOA in 2018, Iran resumed high-grade uranium enrichment, accumulating stockpiles that the IAEA estimates could enable nuclear weapons development within weeks if further enriched. Iranian officials insist the program remains peaceful, though they have indicated that external threats could prompt reconsideration of their nuclear doctrine.

As tensions over Iran’s nuclear capabilities grow, the new US administration under President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

Iran’s enrichment of uranium to 60%—an approach it claims is for civilian use—remains a point of contention, as experts assert such enrichment levels lack peaceful applications.