DUBAI, UAE - Iran said Monday that Iraqis alone have the right to decide their political system and leaders, criticizing what Tehran described as US interference in Iraqi affairs while also warning that they are takeing reports of Israeli activity inside Iraq seriously.

Speaking at a press conference, Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said Iran would respect any decision made by the Iraqi people regarding their government.

“It is exclusively the duty and indeed the right of the Iraqi people to decide on their political system and officials,” Baghaei said. “Whatever decision they make will be respected by us as the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

His comments came in response to questions about recent US sanctions on Iraq’s deputy oil minister over allegations of facilitating Iranian oil sales, as well as reported pressure from Washington on Iraq’s incoming government to limit the influence of armed groups aligned with the so-called “Axis of Resistance.”

Iraq’s deputy oil minister Ali Maarij al-Bahadli was sanctioned by the US over allegations that he facilitated the diversion of Iraqi oil products to benefit Iran-linked networks and armed groups.

The oil ministry rejected the accusations, saying Bahadli is not responsible for crude export or marketing operations and that Baghdad is ready to cooperate with any “fair investigation” into the claims.

Baghaei accused the United States of violating international law by publicly accusing officials from other countries.

“This question is fundamentally directed at the American side: how does it allow itself, contrary to all principles and foundations of international law and the United Nations Charter, to openly accuse officials of other countries and make baseless claims?” he said.

The spokesperson also addressed reports that Israel established a secret military base inside Iraq during the war with Iran and allegedly used it to launch operations against Iranian targets with US knowledge.

“We do not rule out any possibility regarding the aggression of the Zionist regime in the region; everything must be taken seriously,” Baghaei said. “This is an important matter and it will certainly be raised with the Iraqi side.”

He added that Iran had received “many other reports” alleging Israeli use of the territory and facilities of regional countries and said such matters would be investigated.

The comments came after The Wall Street Journal reported that Israel had established a temporary secret base in Iraq’s western desert with alleged US approval during the war with Iran.

Iraqi lawmakers said Monday that parliament’s security and defense committee would host senior security officials to discuss the reports and alleged foreign military activity in the area.

On security cooperation with Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region, Baghaei said Tehran remains in “continuous contact” with Iraqi officials regarding border issues and armed groups operating in the region, referring to the Iranian Kurdish opposition groups.

“These contacts were maintained not only during the imposed war, but cooperation between the two sides has also been useful and positive,” he said, adding that discussions had continued over the past month.

The comments come amid continued Iranian strikes targeting Iranian Kurdish opposition groups based in the Kurdistan Region.

Since the war between Iran and Israel began in late February, the Region has come under repeated drone and missile attacks, with Tehran mainly targeting armed Iranian Kurdish opposition factions operating near the border.

Baghaei also warned that Iran was prepared to respond militarily if necessary while continuing diplomatic efforts.

“We fight whenever necessary and whenever we deem appropriate, we use the weapon of diplomacy to secure the interests of the Iranian nation,” he said. “The satisfaction of others is not important to us.”

The spokesperson also accused Washington of repeatedly undermining diplomatic agreements and negotiations over the past two decades, including its withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal.