Iran Says Does Not Seek Escalation in the Region

A billboard depicting Iranian ballistic missiles and reading “The True Promise”, in Vali Asr Square in central Tehran (AFP)
A billboard depicting Iranian ballistic missiles and reading “The True Promise”, in Vali Asr Square in central Tehran (AFP)
TT
20

Iran Says Does Not Seek Escalation in the Region

A billboard depicting Iranian ballistic missiles and reading “The True Promise”, in Vali Asr Square in central Tehran (AFP)
A billboard depicting Iranian ballistic missiles and reading “The True Promise”, in Vali Asr Square in central Tehran (AFP)

Tehran said that it “does not seek escalation in the region,” criticizing the positions of Western powers, especially the United States, after it launched an attack on Israel, and called on those countries to “evaluate” the response to the bombing of its consulate in Damascus.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said during a press conference that the Iranian strike “was necessary and proportionate,” adding that it “targeted military sites.” He added that his country “does not seek escalation”, and is “committed to international laws and rules.”

This came two days after the Iranian Revolutionary Guard launched, for the first time in its history, an attack with ballistic missiles and drones on Israel in response to the bombing of the Iranian consulate and the killing of a senior Iranian general. The IRGC did not unveil the type of weapons used in the attack, the number of missiles and drones, or their launch sites.

Kanaani expressed his reservations about international criticism, and recalled the official position declared by Tehran, saying: “The Iranian strike on some Israeli military sites is in the context of our legitimate right stipulated in Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, in response to the repeated Israeli attacks, especially the recent attack on our diplomatic headquarters.”

He added that the Iranian Armed Forces and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs “acted in a professional manner, given the Security Council’s inaction” and the “irresponsible behavior” of the United States and some European countries in failing to “deter the Zionist entity.”

The official IRNA news agency quoted Kanaani as saying: “Western countries, including the United States, must respond logically and responsibly, and must appreciate Iran’s actions in order to maintain regional stability and security instead of making illogical statements and positions.”

The Iranian foreign ministry spokesman repeated previous accusations against the United States, saying: “We are convinced that without the green light from Washington, Israel would not have dared to attack the Iranian diplomatic representation” in Damascus.

Kanaani commented on the summoning of the Iranian Chargé d’Affaires in Jordan, and implicitly acknowledged an attack led by the Revolutionary Guard media, saying that it “came in response to the news reported by the Iranian media regarding Jordan, about its interception of Iranian missiles and drones that were launched towards Israeli territory.”

Foreign Minister Ayman Al-Safadi had announced the summoning of the Chargé d’Affaires of the Iranian Embassy in Amman to inform him of the need to stop “insults and questioning” of the kingdom’s positions, stressing that his country would confront “everything that poses a threat to Jordan and the security of Jordanians.”

In previous comments, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said that Tehran informed the United States that the attack on Israel would be limited, and within the framework of self-defense.

However, Kanaani said that no agreement had been made in advance with any country on how Tehran would respond militarily to Israel.



Danish PM Arrives in Greenland for Three-Day Visit amid Trump Pressure

Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, right, and her husband Bo Tengberg is greeted by Greenland's Acting Head of Government, Múte B. Egede after arriving at Nuuk airport, Greenland, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, right, and her husband Bo Tengberg is greeted by Greenland's Acting Head of Government, Múte B. Egede after arriving at Nuuk airport, Greenland, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
TT
20

Danish PM Arrives in Greenland for Three-Day Visit amid Trump Pressure

Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, right, and her husband Bo Tengberg is greeted by Greenland's Acting Head of Government, Múte B. Egede after arriving at Nuuk airport, Greenland, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, right, and her husband Bo Tengberg is greeted by Greenland's Acting Head of Government, Múte B. Egede after arriving at Nuuk airport, Greenland, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

Denmark's prime minister landed in Greenland on Wednesday for talks with the Danish semi-autonomous territory's incoming government, following US President Donald Trump's repeated expressions of interest in controlling the vast Arctic island.

Mette Frederiksen begins her three-day trip less than a week after a visit to the territory by US Vice President JD Vance received a frosty reception from authorities in Denmark and Greenland.

The Danish leader said ahead of her visit that she aims to strengthen Copenhagen's ties with the island and emphasized the importance of respectful cooperation amid what she described as "great pressure on Greenland".

Frederiksen was expected to speak to the media later on Wednesday.

Greenland's incoming Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, who won last month's parliamentary election and will form a coalition government, has welcomed Frederiksen's trip, saying on Monday that Denmark remains "Greenland's closest partner".

Nielsen's new coalition is expected to formally take office on April 7.

Relations between Greenland and Denmark have been strained after revelations in recent years of historical mistreatment of Greenlanders under colonial rule. However, Trump's interest in controlling Greenland, part of a growing international focus on competition for influence in the Arctic, has prompted Denmark to hasten work to improve ties with the island.

Nielsen told Reuters late on Monday that Greenland would strengthen its ties with Denmark until it could fulfil its ultimate wish to become a sovereign nation.

'RESPECTFUL'

Meanwhile, Greenland wishes to establish a "respectful" relationship with the United States, he said.

"Talking about annexation and talking about acquiring Greenland and not respecting the sovereignty is not respectful. So let's start by being respectful to each other and build up a great partnership on everything," he said.

Frederiksen's visit is primarily about signaling support at a time of intense scrutiny, said Ulrik Pram Gad, an academic at the Danish Institute for International Studies.

"It is important for Denmark to signal to Greenland that Denmark is Greenland's closest friend and ally - and to the US that it stands behind Greenland," he said.

During his visit to a US military base in northern Greenland last Friday, Vance accused Denmark of not doing a good job of keeping the island safe and suggested the United States would better protect the strategically-located territory.

Frederiksen, who has said it is up to the people of Greenland to decide their own future, called Vance's description of Denmark "not fair".

Opinion polls show that a majority of Greenland's 57,000 inhabitants support independence from Denmark, but many oppose seeking independence too quickly, fearing their island could become worse off and expose itself to US interests.