Iran FM: 'No Point to Talks Amid Fighting' — Denies Striking Turkey, Cyprus, Azerbaijan — 'False Flag'

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei held a weekly press briefing in which he delivered two significant statements. First, on ceasefire and talks: 'There is no point to talks about anything but defense and crushing retaliations against enemies.' Baghaei added that Iran will 'continue to defend itself' and that Tehran has 'no war to fight with its Muslim neighbors but must target facilities used by aggressors for its legitimate defense.' This statement effectively kills the Vienna talks narrative — Iran's foreign ministry has formally declared that no meaningful negotiations can occur while fighting continues, aligning with Mojtaba's first decree but through the foreign ministry's voice rather than the supreme leader's office alone. Second, Baghaei formally denied any Iranian responsibility for attacks on Turkey, Cyprus, and Azerbaijan, calling the reports 'false flag attacks.' The false flag denial is significant: it suggests Iran is aware that strikes hitting neutral parties (Turkey, Cyprus, Azerbaijan) are damaging its diplomatic position and is publicly distancing itself from any such incidents. Whether these were genuine Iranian strikes mistakenly attributed, Hezbollah or PMF actions, or actual false flag operations is unclear.