US senator’s remarks show real issue is oil: Foreign Ministry spox

Baqaei shared a video on the social media platform X featuring Graham stating, “Venezuela and Iran have 31 percent of the world’s oil reserves. We’re gonna have a partnership with 31 percent of the known reserves. This is China’s nightmare. This is a good investment and we should applaud our men and women in military who’re doing something I’ve never seen done before.”

Responding to the remarks, the spokesperson wrote, “Very rare moment of honesty: It’s all about OIL.”

Analysts note that the joint US-Israeli invasion, which began on February 28, 2026, starting by assassinating Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, disregarded ongoing indirect negotiations. In response, Iran launched retaliatory strikes against Israeli positions and US bases using precision missiles and drones, citing its inherent right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter and warning that further escalation would invite a harsher reaction./irna