Iran rebukes US deployment of B-52 bombers as ‘destabilizing’
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei on Monday criticized the US’s “destabilizing presence” after the deployment of B-52 bombers in the region.
“We have always believed that the presence of the US in the region is a destabilizing presence,” Baghaei told a news conference in response to a question about the deployment, adding that it “will not deter (Iran’s) resolve to defend itself.”
B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers from Minot Air Force Base’s 5th Bomb Wing arrived in the Middle East, United States Central Command (CENTCOM) CENTCOM said early Sunday, without elaborating.
Pentagon officials earlier said the deployment of B-52 bombers to the Middle East as a warning to Iran, which has vowed to respond to Israeli strikes on its military sites on October 26 as the aggression killed four soldiers and a civilian.
Israel’s attack was in retaliation for an October 1 Iranian missile barrage, itself retaliation for the assassinations of leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah as well as an Iranian IRGC commander.
Baghaei also said Iran’s response would be “definite and decisive.”
He added that Iran supported “all initiatives and efforts” to push for a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon.
‘Unjustifiable’ closure
The spokesman also dismissed reports about the expulsion of Iranian diplomats from Germany and said Tehran has informed Berlin that its move to close three Iranian consulates in the European countries was not justifiable at all.
He noted that Germany’s move was a reaction to an issue that is related to Iran’s jurisdiction and is about an Iranian citizen who has committed a terrorist act.
In an announcement on Thursday, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said that the Iranian consulates in the cities of Frankfurt, Hamburg and Munich are to be closed over the execution of convicted terrorist Jamshid Sharmahd.
In a post on his X account on Friday, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi slammed the decision which has been taken in support of a terrorist and amounts to sanctions against thousands of Iranians.