Iran ‘does not rely on one individual’: Spokesman

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei has said that the Iranian state “does not rely on one individual,” rejecting what he described as a narrative promoted by Tehran’s adversaries.

His remarks came a day after Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had been in office since 1989, was killed during the ongoing US-Israeli bombing campaign.

In an interview with the Al-Mayadeen Network, Baghaei said Iran was “defending the entire region, not just Iran,” and described Khamenei’s killing as “an international crime and a war against Iran.”

He said Iran has mobilised all available capabilities to protect its sovereignty, adding that decisions regarding weapons and targets are made by the armed forces.

Baghaei also stressed that Iran maintains respect for neighbouring countries, saying Tehran has no issues with nations in the region and values its relations with them, reports UNB.