Iran says it will not let US determine timing of war and peace

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei asserted that Iran is not a "servant" of oil, responding to a question about the oil sector crisis caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

"What is important for us is national interests and expediency. Decision-making on this issue takes place through an absolutely transparent and clear process involving all decision-making bodies of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is one of them.

Certainly, we have never allowed and will never allow the United States to determine the timing of war and peace. We will defend ourselves as long as our interests require it, and whenever we feel that we can use diplomacy as a tool to protect national interests, we will certainly use it as a tool," Baghaei said.