Iran has emphasised its “recognised right” to defend national sovereignty and create deterrence against Israel after Western nations urged Tehran not to attack Israel in retaliation for the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan’ani made the remarks a day after the UK, France and Germany called on Iran and its allies to “refrain from attacks” against Israel.
Having failed to protest Israel’s’ crimes, Kan’ani said, the three countries had “impudently” asked Iran not to take a punitive and deterrent action against the occupying regime that has violated the Islamic Republic’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“Such excessive demands lack political logic and are completely contrary to the principles and rules of international law. They are tantamount to public and practical support for the source of international crimes and terrorism in the region and encourage and reward the masterminds and perpetrators of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity,” he added.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran is resolved to defend its national sovereignty and security, and help establish sustainable stability in the region and create deterrence against the genuine source of insecurity and terrorism in the region,” he asserted, in an apparent reference to Israel.
The spokesman also said that if the three Western countries seek peace and stability in the region, they had better “once and for all” stand up against the apartheid regime’s warmongering and immediately stop its genocide against defenseless Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
He further asserted that the main factor behind the regional expansion of the Gaza crisis is the inaction of governments and the UN Security Council on the Israel’s brutal acts, as well as the West’s extensive political and military support for the Israeli regime.
Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated on the latest news and updates from around the Muslim world!
On July 31, Israel assassinated Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the political bureau of Hamas, in the Iranian capital Tehran.
Last night, Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke to the President of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian saying said that he was deeply concerned by the situation in the region and called on all parties to de-escalate and avoid further regional confrontation.
There was a serious risk of miscalculation and now was the time for calm and careful consideration, the Prime Minister said.
He called on Iran to refrain from attacking Israel, adding that war was not in anyone’s interests.
The Prime Minister underlined his commitment to an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages and increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza. He added the focus should be on diplomatic negotiations, to achieve those outcomes.
