Kanaani made the remarks at his weekly presser on Monday, three days after the latest round of Gaza ceasefire talks were concluded in Qatar, leading to a new proposal that the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas rejected, arguing that Israel has set new conditions for a ceasefire in exchange for releasing its war prisoners held in Gaza.

“The Israeli regime showed that it has no desire to establish a ceasefire to stop the war, and the reactions after the recent negotiations showed the same. This regime has not stopped the killing of the Palestinian people, and on the other hand, Hamas has expressed its views and said that the Zionist regime has set new conditions.”

The spokesman further said no one doubts that an immediate ceasefire needs to be established in Gaza, adding that Israeli crimes have continued in the Palestinian territory as a result of the inaction of the international community, particularly the United Nations Security Council, and under US pressure.

The Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes any “sincere effort” aimed at establishing a ceasefire and bringing an end to the Israeli regime’s brutal crimes, the diplomat noted, adding that Iran has in the past months used all its diplomatic capacity to stop the killing machine of the Zionist regime.

Kanaani also said that Iran does not consider the US as a qualified party to pursue the Gaza ceasefire talks because of the performance of Washington which supports the Israeli regime and is complicit in its crimes. The US has repeatedly shown that it is not committed to protecting regional peace and security, and instead is committed to Israel’s security, he added.

If the US had the determination to help establish a ceasefire in Gaza, it would have used its power to stop the Israeli killing machine, the spokesman further said.

Ceasefire deal in Gaza

As to the truce deal in the Gaza Strip, Kanaani said that Iran welcomes any measures based on good faith on an armistice between warring sides.

The US must determine whether it helps the Zionist regime to drag out the ongoing war or it truly seeks to play a constructive role in this regard, he added.

Time will say how the US takes steps in reality, he said, noting that Hamas has not witnessed a positive approach from the Americans.

1953 coup

About the 1953 coup in Iran, which is known in the country as the 28 Mordad coup d’état, he said that a court in the Iranian capital on Sunday held the first hearing on a lawsuit filed against the US administration and its officials for their role in the coup against the then democratically-elected government of Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh.

The first trial was held at the 55th branch of the court dealing with International Affairs of Tehran Province simultaneously with the 71st anniversary of the coup.

The lawsuit filed by some 402,000 Iranians against American individuals and legal entities in this regard, he noted.

He said that the plot, orchestrated by the US and UK, inflicted a heavy blow on Iranians for 25 years.

To maintain its security against the aggressors, the Islamic Republic of Iran uses all its facilities based on all international principles, and the international community, especially the Security Council, has an immediate and objective responsibility to support international peace and security, and it is necessary to adhere to it, Kanaani added.

'Israeli regime threat to entire region'

Regarding the Lebanon issues, Kanaani emphasized that Iran will not hesitate to ensure the security of the region and considers the Zionist regime a threat to the entire region. 

He said the Lebanese government, nation and army showed that they stand against the adventurism of the Zionist regime and will stand against any new aggression.

Iran’s response to Haniyeh’s assassination as an official guest of Iran and the issue of ceasefire negotiations in the Gaza war are two separate issues, Iran has been the strongest and most important regional and international supporter of the ceasefire and will continue to strive and support actions in this direction, the spokesman said. 

But this issue has nothing to do with Iran’s legitimate and legal right to respond to the aggressor and punish the Zionist regime for Haniyeh’s assassination, Kanaani underlined.

He went on to say that Iran has the right to defend its territorial integrity and national sovereignty against the aggressor and immediately requested the emergency special meeting of the Security Council, and despite the good positions of some countries in the meeting, the United States and some other countries prevented the Security Council from fulfilling its duties.

Referring to the meeting, the spokesman went on to say that if the Security Council cannot protect the interests and security of the country that was violated, the country can use its legal and legitimate rights in fulfilling the rights.

Pezeshkian’s pick for foreign minister

Further in his remarks, Kanaani said that President Pezeshkian’s proposed foreign minister Abbas Araqchi is an experienced member of the ministry. The more votes of confidence Araqchi gets at parliament, the more powerfully he will act in advancing the foreign policy goals of the Islamic Republic, the spokesman added.

Kanaani also referred to the Sunday parliamentary session during which Araqchi elaborated on his plans to run the Foreign Ministry as well as key foreign policy issues including the removal of the existing sanctions.

He said the Raisi administration resumed negotiations aimed at reviving the 2015 nuclear deal and removing the sanctions, and that Araqchi elaborated on the current status of those talks during the Sunday session. “We hope that the new Iranian administration will be able to uphold the country’s rights,” Kanaani added.

US-UK aggression on Yemen

The US has played an unconstructive and partial role in the Yemen crisis, and it has recently conducted acts of aggression on the Arab country, which have violated Yemen’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, the spokesman said.

These acts of aggression are part of US destabilizing efforts which are condemned by Iran and under international law, he further said, adding that those who claim to be after peace in Yemen should work on it practically.

Iran-Russia comprehensive agreement

The Iranian spokesman said that the agreement is going ahead and the two sides will sign it in the future.

Tehran has received a letter from Russian president Vladimir Putin who has invited his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian to attend an October meeting of BRICS heads of state, which will enable the two presidents to exchange views on the bilateral comprehensive agreement, Kanaani said.

Iran not to attend truce deal in Gaza

Meanwhile, Kanaani said the Islamic Republic has not participated in the ceasefire deal on the war in the Gaza Strip, emphasizing it is natural that Iran does not take part in any deals in which the Zionist regime is involved.

It is on the Palestinian nation to make a decision in this regard, he stated.

Iran-Egypt diplomatic relations

Commenting on the expansion of the ties between Iran and Egypt, he hailed the process as constructive.

Multiple high-level talks have been held to this end, he said, noting that telephone conversations are being also held.

Both sides seek to work on the enhancement of the mutual ties, he added.

Restoration of ties between Iran-Bahrain

On the resumption of relations between Tehran and Manama, the official said that both sides have agreed to establish a mechanism to rebuild the bilateral relations.

Iran’s response to unlawful act of Zionists

Iran’s possible response to the illegal action of the Zionist regime is a legitimate and legal right, he said.

All sides who have discussed the issues with Iran during this period have acknowledged the right, he added.

Referring to the Israeli assassination of the Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last month, he said the move is a violation of the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of a member of the United Nations

Iran has never compromised its national security and interest, the Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

Naturally, Iran could react based on the UN Charter, he said, noting that the country has vowed to take firm action in this regard.