Iran's top diplomat in Manila said Thursday, March 12, that Tehran respects the territorial integrity and political independence of its neighboring nations amid fears of nationals from other countries, such as the Philippines, of being dragged into the conflict.

Iranian Ambassador to Manila Yousef Esmaeil Zadeh told Manila Bulletin that Iran's relations with Manila, a US ally, under the leadership of new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, whose father was killed by a joint US-Israel strike, will become "even brighter" as their ties "are historical and steadily progressing."

Here's the ambassador's response to questions sent by Manila Bulletin:

Q: What's the current status of PH-Iran relations?

A: Relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of the Philippines are historical and steadily progressing. We are confident that the future of relations between the two countries will be even brighter.

Q: What's the view of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei toward the Philippines? Has he visited here? Has he expressed any thoughts about the Philippines in the past?

A: The foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran is generally based on strengthening relations with all countries of the world within the framework of the principle of mutual respect and International law. Fortunately, relations between Iran and the Philippines have always been friendly and as I mentioned, these relations will continue to be strengthened even further in the future.

Q: Iran attacked countries that are not directly involved in the conflict, i.e., neighbouring countries of the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, etc. It's valid for us here in eastern Asia to fear being dragged into the conflict. What's your comment on that?

A: Considering my answer to your previous questions, Iran fully respects the territorial integrity and political independence of its neighbouring countries. All Member States of the United Nations, members of the Non-Aligned Movement, and all governments committed to international peace and security, are expected to condemn this act of aggression and to take urgent and collective measures in response. All States around the world must remain vigilant and refrain from being drawn into the schemes and designs of the United States and the Zionist regime as they are seeking to change the World Order in line with their own interests.

Meanwhile, Zadeh said Iran also attacked its neighboring countries that were not initially part of the conflict because it "had no option but to target certain US military facilities in the region."

He also said that Iran and all the countries in the region "have historically lived together in complete peace and security for thousands of years,"  but the United States and Israel are the "only players that have endangered the peace and security of the region."

Here's the ambassador's response to Manila Bulletin's questions:

Q: US President Donald Trump said he was not happy with the progress of nuclear negotiations before the US launched a joint attack with Israel on Iran. Your comment?

A: This attack represents yet another betrayal of diplomacy and demonstrates that the US has zero respect for the basics of diplomacy. Despite being fully aware of the hostile intentions of the United States and the apartheid regime of Israel, Iran once again entered into negotiations to leave no room for doubt before the international community—to demonstrate the legitimacy of the Iranian people’s cause and to expose the baselessness of any pretext for aggression.

These events show that the United States does not truly believe in diplomacy and instead seeks to impose its will on other nations. In a flagrant violation of Iran’s territorial integrity and national sovereignty, they have launched, as of Saturday, 28 February, an unprovoked, unwarranted act of aggression against my country. They started this merciless aggression by targeting Iran’s Supreme Leader’s compound at the heart of the capital, Tehran. The leader, also a highly respected Shia religious jurist across the region and beyond, was martyred along with a number of his family members, including his 14-month-old granddaughter, on the 10th day of the holy month of Ramadan.

At the same time, they launched massive air and missile strikes across Iran against military and civilian infrastructure. The number of civilian martyrs in these attacks is increasing. In just one case, they struck an elementary school in Minab, southern Iran, where 168 innocent schoolgirls and 26 teachers were brutally slaughtered. They also targeted energy infrastructure, which has caused widespread environmental pollution in Tehran and the surrounding cities. These attacks are in clear violation of international environmental laws.

Q: Your government officials had said Iran and the US were actually in the middle of negotiations when the US and Israel attacked. Can you expound on that?

A: As I mentioned in the first question, this aggression toward Iran is another betrayal of diplomacy and demonstrates that the US has zero respect for the basics of diplomacy. This renewed aggression was imposed on the Iranian nation while Iran and the United States were engaged in a diplomatic process. The foreign minister of Oman, acting as mediator, had announced that significant progress had been achieved in the latest round of negotiations on Thursday, 26 February in Geneva. The whole world witnessed that while we were in the middle of negotiations, the United States and the Zionist regime betrayed diplomacy through unlawful aggression.

Q: Why did you attack your neighboring Arab Countries? Why did you also launch attacks against other countries, such as Turkiye?

A: The airstrikes carried out by the Zionist regime and the United States against Iran constitute a violation of Article 2(4) of the Charter of the United Nations and amount to a clear act of armed aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran. United Nations experts stated in their statement on March 4 that this act of aggression is unlawful.

Furthermore, the assassination of the Supreme Leader and other Iranian officials represents a manifest violation of the immunity of state officials and of international conventions, including the 1973 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Internationally Protected Persons.

Responding to this aggression is Iran’s lawful and legitimate right under Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations. The Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will employ all necessary capabilities to counter this criminal aggression and repel the enemy’s hostility. This right shall continue until the aggression ceases and the matter is properly addressed by the United Nations Security Council.

As the state acting in self-defence, Iran will determine the measures that are necessary and proportionate to this armed attack. In exercising this right, Iran had no option but to target certain US military facilities in the region. These defensive operations are not directed against host countries but are undertaken solely in defence of Iran.

The facilities targeted were used by the United States to prepare and launch military attacks against Iran. Iran fully respects the territorial integrity and political independence of its neighbouring countries. Every state has a responsibility, under international law and the principle of good neighbourliness, not to allow its territory, airspace, or facilities to be used for acts of aggression against Iran.

As expressly affirmed by the authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran, any point of origin, base, or territorial platform from which acts of aggression against Iran are initiated—irrespective of the state in which such forces may be stationed—shall, consistent with Article 3(f) of the Annex to General Assembly Resolution 3314 (XXIX) on the Definition of Aggression, be regarded as a lawful military objective in the exercise of Iran’s inherent right of self-defence under Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations.

We need concrete and objective assurances that no further aggression will originate from US facilities located within these countries. As I know, no Projectiles fired from Iran to the brotherly country, Turkiye, and officials of Two country are in full contact.