[Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs: We cannot give up diplomacy because of the past actions of the United States] October 20th, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Bargai said on Tuesday that Iran cannot give up diplomatic channels because of past actions of the United States. He warned that if officials abandon negotiations and choose war, they will be criticized by the people. Baghai said: "The record of the United States reneging on the agreement is obvious, but we cannot abandon our responsibilities and abandon diplomatic channels because of painful past experiences. If we do not use diplomatic means, the Iranian people will say: 'You hesitated and finally chose war.'" He said that diplomacy itself is part of Iran's defense system and the work of safeguarding the rights and interests of its people, and there is no separation between battlefield and diplomacy. Baghai also blamed regional crises and turmoil on Israel's "expansion policy," which he said was supported by the United States and some European countries.