Swiss RTS Interviews Ambassador Barimani

Amb. Barimani: “We are ready to respond in the case of an Israeli attack more decisively”.

Interview by: Ms. Julie Rausis, RTS 

RTS: We met around six months ago after Iran’s first attack on Israel. What has changed for you, your country, your region in six months and why this new attack? For example, the death of Hassan Nasrallh was for you a provocation?
Ambassador Barimani: The situation is certainly not good for the region. The number of victims, martyrs; and killings that have taken place in Gaza and Lebanon.
The Israelis are doing whatever they want. Using prohibited weapons of mass destruction such as bunker buster bombs given by the U.S. against civilian and residential areas in Lebanon is yet another proof of the commission of war crimes and genocide by the terrorist regime of Israel. Because the UN Security Council has shown itself incapable of stopping such a regime. Had it not been the case that the Israeli regime hadn't violated the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of my country, by assassination of Mr. Ismael Hanieh in Tehran, who was our official guest to attend the inaugural ceremony of president Pezeshkian, followed by a number of other crimes, most notably injuring our Ambassador in Lebanon by detonating of the pagers, martyring Sayyad Hassan Nasrallah and our top military advisor in Lebanon, in addition to the martyrdom and injuries of a number of others, we wouldn't have reacted. It's the Israeli regime that started this.

RTS: The international community now fears that a large-scale war occurs. How far is Iran prepared to go? You speak about de-escalation, but also being ready to go to an open war.
Ambassador Barimani: Iran is doing everything in its power to de-escalate and bring about a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon. Our Foreign Minister was in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Iraq for this purpose in the past couple of days. We are fully prepared for de-escalation, and are doing everything we can to that effect.

RTS: You speak about the response of Israel. Do you fear a response and a fear of attack on oil or nuclear installations?
Ambassador Barimani: Our action was in the exercise of Iran’s inherent right to self-defense as enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter, after two months of restraint. As we stated, we consider this case to be over. However, we are ready to respond in the event of any attack on our territory, swiftly, firmly and decisively. Many of the Israeli regime's infrastructures have been identified, and if that happens, we are in a position to react much more strongly than before. Why should we be afraid?

RTS: Israel wants to create, they say, a new regional order in the Middle East. Is Iran now afraid of being may be isolated?
Ambassador Barimani: This project is doomed to failure. It's not shared by the people and other players in the region. It's a purely Israeli intention and wishful thinking of Bibi. The Israelis think they can do whatever they want, but the peoples are defending their country and their territory.

RTS: In Iran, people do not support war with Israel or US or a large-scale war. They share messages on social media ‘no war’. They say that their lives are already a struggle because of the economic situation in Iran now, also the operation of the government. What do you say to Iranian people who want to have a normal life?
Ambassador Barimani: Our people support the government’s position. As you saw, millions of people participated in last week Friday Prayer which was led by our Supreme Leader in Tehran and demonstrated this support.
As for the latter part of your question, this is exactly what the government is trying to do. We are doing everything possible to prevent any war, to improve the economic situation and prosperity and well-being of our people.