Iranian Ambassador to Hungary Morteza Moradian said that Hungary’s concerns about a rising terrorist threat as a result of the conflict in the Middle East are not exaggerated. Speaking during a press conference in Budapest on Thursday, 5 March, the ambassador acknowledged that regional crises in the Middle East can affect European countries, with potential consequences for security, migration, and energy security.
Replying to a question from Hungarian Conservative about the Hungarian government’s decision to raise the terrorism threat level related to the war in Iran, Ambassador Moradian stressed that Tehran ‘does not intend to carry out attacks abroad,’ claiming such narratives are part of ‘American and Israeli propaganda.’ He also accused American and Israeli policies of having ‘repeatedly pushed’ the region into crisis and expressed hope that ‘both Europe and the Middle East become safer’ in the future.
The briefing was organized amid a war of missiles unfolding between the United States, Israel, Gulf countries, and Iran, which began with a US–Israeli joint military operation last Saturday that resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Ambassador Moradian described the elimination of Khamenei as an ‘unprecedented event’, noting that America’s actions ‘humiliated religious leaders around the world and deeply hurt believers.’
Washington justified the attacks by stating that nuclear talks between the US and Iran had collapsed and that Tehran was close to developing nuclear weapons. The stated goal of the operation is regime change in the Persian country, which Washington sees as an indicator of long-term stability in the region. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also stated on 2 March that the United States believed an Israeli strike on Iran was imminent and that this would likely trigger Iranian retaliation against American forces in the region. According to him, Washington decided to act before those attacks could occur.
Broken Trust
Contradicting the American narrative, Ambassador Moradian said that the recent negotiations between Iran and the United States, held in Geneva on 26 February, were ‘highly constructive’ and showed ‘remarkable progress’. That is why, he continued, Tehran was confused by the attack, which happened two days after the ‘successful talks.’
A new round of talks had been scheduled to take place in Vienna on 2 March. According to the ambassador, the sides had come close to reaching an agreement, and both delegations departed Geneva with a positive assessment of the negotiations.
However, the ambassador claimed that certain actors decided to sabotage the progress of the talks. According to him, these actors attempted to incite hostility against Iran through disinformation campaigns.
‘The ambassador called the strike a “diplomatic betrayal” and warned that it sets a dangerous precedent’
He described the subsequent US–Israeli attack as illegal and said it occurred without warning, in the middle of an active diplomatic negotiation process. The ambassador called the strike a ‘diplomatic betrayal’ and warned that it sets a dangerous precedent.
He further described the attack as a ‘cowardly and savage act of aggression’. Iran’s response, he said, was a legitimate act of self-defence, describing the country’s actions as ‘brave and heroic’. The ambassador added that Iran expects international organizations, including the United Nations, to fulfil their legal and moral responsibilities and take action. He also called on countries around the world to condemn what he described as aggression and urged NGOs to investigate the attacks independently.
Unconditional Surrender
When asked whether Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán could play a role in potential peace negotiations between the United States and Iran—given Orbán’s good relations with US President Donald Trump—the ambassador said Iran expects all responsible leaders around the world to assist diplomatic efforts. He added that Hungarian leaders could potentially contribute in this regard.
Ambassador Moradian also claimed that Iran ‘has never walked away from the negotiating table’ and that Tehran remains open to continuing negotiations despite the attack. Trump, however, said on Friday that a ceasefire would only be possible if Iran surrenders unconditionally. He also suggested that after such a surrender, the United States and its partners would help rebuild Iran’s economy and shape its future leadership.
Ambassador Moradian declared that it is not for foreign leaders such as Donald Trump to ‘decide who leads Iran,’ adding that political change can only come from within the country. He acknowledged that there may be voices inside Iran calling for change, but reaffirmed that such change must come through internal political processes rather than external intervention.
Related articles:
