Iranian Ambassador Calls Israel a 'Malignant Tumor' in Middle East

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Iranian government does not consider a ceasefire the main solution to the Middle East conflict. Instead, it calls for the region to be free from foreign intervention, particularly from the United States and Israel.

"I think the way out is for the Middle East to be handed over to Middle Eastern countries. Middle Eastern countries have proven that they can manage the interests and security in the region very well," said Iran's Ambassador to Indonesia, Mohammad Boroujerdi, during an interview with Tempo at his residence in Menteng, Central Jakarta, on Thursday, July 10, 2025.

Israel as a Source of Conflict

Boroujerdi pointed to major powers, especially the United States, as the root of long-standing conflicts in the region. "On a larger scale, the issue in our region is the international forces meddling," he said.

One form of that interference, according to Boroujerdi, is the presence of Israel. "They have created a malignant tumor in the Middle East called the Zionist regime of Israel," he said.

He also urged institutions like the UN Security Council and the Human Rights Council to act more responsibly. "Unfortunately, the political interests and the fear held by these institutions greatly affect their performance in the field," he added.

No to a Ceasefire with Israel

Boroujerdi made it clear that Iran has never agreed to a ceasefire with Israel. "There is no ceasefire between us. What happened is that due to the aggression against Iran stopping, our defensive actions ceased," he said at a previous interview on July 3.

He emphasized that Iran does not initiate wars. "Of course, we never attack other countries. We always act in self-defense. We do not start wars but are always ready to defend ourselves."

He also described how an Israeli airstrike on June 13, 2025, came during direct talks between Iran and the U.S. on nuclear issues.

"The Zionist regime attacked while we were in direct negotiations with them five times regarding nuclear activities," he said.

"After this attack, the trust between each other has collapsed and no longer exists."

According to Boroujerdi, negotiations are ongoing but still focused on rebuilding trust.

Tensions escalated on June 13, 2025, when Israel bombed military and nuclear sites in Iran. The United States joined the attacks on June 21, targeting strategic facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.

Iran responded by launching missiles and drones into Israeli territory. Although the U.S. announced a ceasefire on June 24, Iran has refused to acknowledge such an agreement.

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