Iran, “we remain at the table with the USA but escalation is possible”: Interview with Ambassador Sabouri in Rome

“While maintaining full readiness to face any act of aggression or possible violation of the ceasefire, the Islamic Republic of Iran continues to participate in the negotiation process”, underlines the diplomat, recalling how Tehran has welcomed “with a constructive spirit and in good faith” the international mediation efforts, including the initiatives promoted by Pakistan.

According to Sabouri, the most recent developments in the region – from the Israeli raid on Beirut to the Iranian missile attack that followed – confirm a phase that is still extremely fragile. Israeli military operations, in particular those against Lebanon, are defined as elements that “highlight a negative attitude towards the diplomatic path” and an attempt to hinder the ongoing negotiations.

For the ambassador, therefore, “the possibility of a new escalation or new episodes of conflict is not yet excluded”, even if the Islamic Republic will continue to pursue an approach that he defines as “responsible and constructive” in support of diplomacy and lasting political solutions.

On the security front, Tehran reiterates clear red lines: any attack against infrastructure, vital interests or national security will be considered a violation and will receive a “decisive and proportionate” response. Sabouri underlines how the Islamic Republic has already demonstrated its ability to react in the past, citing episodes of tension in the Persian Gulf and retaliation against Israeli targets after attacks on Iranian infrastructure.

The diplomat also accuses the United States and Israel of having contributed to the deterioration of the regional situation, speaking of “harmful and destabilizing” behavior and repeated violations of the ceasefire. “The Islamic Republic of Iran has clearly and unequivocally demonstrated its good faith in implementing the ceasefire,” it says, arguing that recent developments are a direct consequence of such actions.

Finally, Sabouri recalls the regional dimension of the conflict, rejecting the accusations of an Iranian command role over Hezbollah, Iraqi militias and the Houthis. “The Islamic Republic of Iran does not exercise any influence or interference in the decisions or operations of regional groups and actors”, it states, while underlining that such movements are part of a context marked by “aggressions, provocations and repeated violations of the ceasefire”.

According to the ambassador, the current dynamics are also the result of the “inertia and inability of the international community” to contain Israeli behavior, citing civilian victims in Gaza and Lebanon and the continuous escalations in the region. A situation which, Tehran warns, continues to fuel instability and risks of further widening of the conflict.