The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baqaei, has reacted to the recent allegation made by the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.
In his post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Esmaeil Baqaei said that no one will be fooled; we can’t have a peaceful region so long as American militarism and interventionism persist, and their occupying proxy continues, with absolute impunity, to inflict endless wars across the region and perpetrate genocide, terror violence and every atrocities.
No one will be fooled; we can't have a peaceful region so long as American militarism and interventionism persist, and their occupying proxy continues, with absolute impunity, to inflict endless wars across the region and perpetrate genocide, terror violence and every atrocities. pic.twitter.com/JtkzynX8p9
— Esmaeil Baqaei (@IRIMFA_SPOX) June 24, 2026
The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, on June 23, gave a statement saying, “You can’t have the end of hostilities and conflicts in the region as long as Iranian proxies are launching missiles and drones from Iraq, and are participating in terrorism like Hamas did and Hezbollah did.”
Iran has strongly rejected recent comments by Marco Rubio, accusing Washington of presenting a distorted picture of the causes of instability in the Middle East.
In his post on X, Esmaeil Baqaei dismissed claims that armed groups in Iraq, as well as Hezbollah and Hamas, are primarily responsible for unrest in the region.
The Irania Foreign Ministry spokesperson said such assertions were contrary to the facts and argued that the international community could not be misled by what he described as an incomplete account of regional tensions.
He said a lasting peace in the Middle East would require a broader examination of regional policies and foreign intervention, adding that the roots of current conflicts could not be understood by attributing responsibility to a single party.
The Iranian spokesman also criticised US policy in the region, arguing that peace and stability would remain difficult to achieve as long as American military involvement continued.
He warned that overlooking the wider causes of regional tensions could further complicate efforts to reduce conflict and promote diplomatic solutions.
Mr Baghaei also accused Israel of benefiting from strong US support, claiming that this had allowed it greater freedom to conduct military operations across the region. He said ongoing violence and military activity had undermined prospects for long-term peace.
The comments came in response to remarks by Mr Rubio, who recently described Iran-backed armed groups as a major source of instability in the Middle East.
The United States has long accused Iran of supporting militant organisations across the region, allegations that Tehran consistently denies.
Meanwhile, diplomatic sources say discussions aimed at improving relations between Iran and Gulf states are expected to take place in Saudi Arabia, although no date has yet been announced.
Separately, Iranian negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that maintaining a ceasefire in Lebanon was as important to any potential final agreement with the United States as preserving stability within Iran itself.
The latest exchange of criticism highlights the continuing tensions between Tehran and Washington, despite ongoing diplomatic efforts involving regional and international stakeholders.
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