Baghaei calls the U.S. fighting "an overt military aggression" against Iran
Spokesperson for Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at a press briefing
“it is an overt military aggression against Iran’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
Al Arabiya English's report, published September 7, 2026, on the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson's press briefing that day. The English wording of Baghaei's remark is as published by Al Arabiya.
Original post
About this source
Al Arabiya English's video post pairing a clip of Vance's remark with a clip of Baghaei's response. The video carries English subtitles.
Before the quotation
Vance had said at the September 3 White House briefing that he would not call the fighting a war.
After the quotation
Al Arabiya reported that Baghaei also said a Qatari delegation was in Iran on Sunday to help de-escalate tension between the U.S. and Iran.
How this statement is classified
Responding to: Vice President JD Vance said he would not call the U.S. fight with Iran a war, saying there is no active shooting right now and that major combat operations lasted about six weeks.
The label describes this statement’s response within the context above.
Why this label?
Baghaei disputes Vance's description and offers a different one, saying the fighting is an overt military aggression against Iran's sovereignty. He replaces the label rather than denouncing Vance's statement as such, so challenges the characterization fits better than condemns.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- JD Vance
Is the U.S. fight with Iran a war, as Vice President Vance says it is not?
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Read the full case“We're still in a conflict, for sure. The United States Navy is there to reduce Iran's ability to cause trouble, but they're doing everything they can to cause trouble. And the United States' capabilities to deflect that have continued to grow. But we're in a conflict zone. ... So, this is a conflict. Make no mistake about that.”Read statement
““Small potatoes.” That’s how Donald Trump feels about the war he started in Iran. Tell that to the families of the 18 troops we’ve lost, the hundreds of wounded servicemembers, and the Americans suffering every single day from record high prices. There's nothing small about it.”Read statement
“JD Vance said what’s happening in Iran is not a “war.” Please explain that to the families of the 19 U.S. service members who lost their lives or the thousands of people who have been killed across the region.”Read statement