Ali Bahreini, Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, said in an interview with BBC that Iran will continue defending itself until what he called the “aggressors” stop the war.
In the wide-ranging interview with BBC Radio 4’s PM program, Bahreini stated that the new Supreme Leader of Iran, Mojtaba Khamenei, is safe and currently governing the country.
He described Khamenei’s selection as “an indication of both stability and continuity” for Iran.
Bahreini was also asked about the Strait of Hormuz—one of the world’s most important maritime shipping routes and a key oil transit point.
“The Strait of Hormuz is affected by a war situation,” he said. “For that reason, no one can expect transit to function normally.”
He added that Iran is “not against the peaceful use” of the strait, but that Tehran’s actions are aimed at preventing the United States and Israel from creating threats against Iran in the region.
“Iran is defending itself. This defense will continue until the aggressors stop. For us, the end of the war will come when the aggressors end it. Iran did not start this war. It was the United States and Israel that started it,” Bahreini said.
