TEHRAN – Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei on Monday explained Iran’s decision to skip the Sharm el-Sheikh summit on the Gaza crisis, stating that the rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination remain unmet, making any meaningful progress impossible without addressing this core issue.
Baghaei told a weekly press briefing that Iran had received an official invitation from the Egyptian president but, after careful consideration of all factors, chose to prioritize national interests. 
“As long as the rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination are not realized, there can be no hope for an end to the crimes,” he said.
Baghaei reaffirmed Iran’s call for an immediate end to genocide in Gaza, the lifting of the Israeli blockade, and the delivery of humanitarian aid to the besieged territory. He also urged an emergency summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to galvanize action to stop ongoing atrocities. 
“Every day that the killings cease is a gain for humanity,” he said, referring to what he described as over two years of systemic violations against ethics and humanity in Gaza.
Despite recent pauses in Israeli airstrikes, Baghaei emphasized the extensive destruction and human toll, pointing to debris clearance operations revealing the scale of Palestinian casualties. 
“Given Israel’s record of broken promises, the international community and regional actors must remain vigilant to prevent the regime from repeating its longstanding pattern of violations,” he warned.
Baghaei reiterated Iran’s support for any genuine efforts aimed at halting killings and genocide, noting that Tehran’s consistent demand has been the cessation of crimes, ending the blockade, and enabling humanitarian assistance.
Addressing Iran’s influence in regional affairs amid its absence from Sharm el-Sheikh, Baghaei said Tehran’s role is not confined to physical attendance at summits. 
“Iran has been one of the most active countries in pursuing justice for Gaza and maintaining communication with regional partners over the past two years,” he noted.
Baghaei addressed coordinated media campaigns against Iran, calling them multi-layered efforts designed to falsely bolster Israel’s image. “Western media have been extensively used as tools in this cognitive warfare,” he said.
The spokesman dismissed the possibility of regional cooperation with the United States, despite recent comments by U.S. President Donald Trump expressing openness to engagement with Tehran.
Responding to reports that Trump reiterated his willingness to work with Iran upon arriving in the occupied Palestinian territories, he said Tehran remains deeply skeptical due to decades of what it sees as Washington’s one-sided policies.
“No country can decide its future relations without considering past experiences,” Baghaei said. “Our experience with the United States—especially in the past few months—has been marked by military aggression by both the U.S. and the Zionist regime against Iran.”
He said any future decisions on dialogue would depend on a thorough assessment by the Iranian leadership and must align with the country’s national interests. 
“Whenever necessary, and when the system reaches a conclusion that diplomacy serves our interests, we will make the appropriate decision—with open eyes,” Baghaei said.
He added that successive U.S. administrations have demonstrated a unilateral and maximalist approach toward Iran, undermining any basis for mutual understanding. 
“Even in the nuclear file, we reached an agreement. But the key question remains: how did they act on it? Did they uphold their commitments?” Baghaei asked. “The answer is clearly no.”
The spokesperson said Iran continues to view diplomacy as a tool, not an end in itself, and stressed that any talks must be 
rooted in mutual respect and recognition of rights.
Baghaei also addressed comments by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who reportedly conveyed an Israeli message to Tehran that Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu assured him Israel is not seeking a new escalation with Iran.
The spokesman said Iran listens to the views of friendly nations but remains vigilant. “Given Israel’s long record of deception, we maintain full readiness and alertness at all levels, including in defense.” 
Responding to questions about why Iran has not signed a comprehensive agreement with Western countries, despite having such accords with China and Russia, Baghaei said mutual recognition of core rights is a prerequisite for any deal.
“When rights are not respected, no agreement is possible,” he said. “The performance of various U.S. administrations has consistently shown a lack of balance and sincerity in dealing with Iran.”
Baghaei also dismissed suggestions that the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA) could serve as a model for broader engagement. “Even in that specific case, we saw a clear agreement, but the implementation by the U.S. and its partners was far from reliable,” he said.
Iran, he noted, will continue to pursue its foreign policy based on its national interest, guided by realism and past experience.