US troops in Jordan operate under defense agreement, not bases: Jordanian FM

• Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi denied the presence of US military bases in Jordan, saying American forces are stationed under defense cooperation agreements.
• Jordan condemned attacks targeting the kingdom and Gulf states as "unacceptable and unjustified," calling for diplomatic efforts to end regional tensions.

Jordan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said there are no US military bases in the country, stressing that the American military presence is limited to personnel operating under long-standing defense cooperation between the two countries.

Speaking during a dialogue session at the Aspen Security Forum in the United States, Safadi said US troops are present in Jordan under a mutual defense agreement that respects the kingdom’s sovereignty.

Safadi dismissed Iranian claims that US bases in Jordan are being used to justify targeting the kingdom, describing the narrative as "incorrect."

He said American personnel have been in Jordan for years as part of military cooperation in several areas, particularly efforts to combat Daesh.

The Jordanian foreign minister stressed that attacks targeting Jordan and Gulf countries are "unacceptable and unjustified," emphasizing that the kingdom is not a party to the ongoing regional tensions.

Safadi said countries in the region seek to establish positive relations with Iran, but added that this requires an end to interference in the internal affairs of other states and respect for their sovereignty.

He said diplomatic efforts are currently focused on ending the war and supporting a comprehensive political process that addresses the roots of disputes between Iran and regional countries rather than relying on further escalation.