Iran has rejects calls from European leaders to refrain from retaliation against Israel for the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last month.
In response to Hamas’ leader killing on Iran soil, the leaders of the UK, France and Germany issued a joint statement urging Iran and its allies to “refrain from attacks that would further escalate regional tensions”.
“They will bear responsibility for actions that jeopardise this opportunity for peace and stability,” Sir Keir, President Emmanuel Macron and Chancellor Olaf Scholz said.
The British prime minister, Keir Stamer also expressed his deep concerns directly to Iran’s president by telephone; the first such call since March 2021.
But Mr Pezeshkian said retaliation was a “way to stop crime” and Iran’s “legal right”.
Read Also: Vice President Zarif Retires 11 Days After Election
Iran also disclosed that Hezbollah’s movement in Lebanon is also threatening to retaliate over Israel’s killing of one of its top commanders in an air strike in Beirut.
However, on Tuesday, Iranian state news agency Iran reported that Mr Pezeshkian had told Sir Keir that Western countries’ support for Israel had encouraged it to “continue atrocities” and threatened peace and security.
“Pezeshkian stated that from the point of view of the Islamic Republic of Iran, war in any part of the world is not in the interest of any country, emphasizing that a punitive response to an aggressor is a legal right of states and a way to stop crime and aggression,” Irna added.
The Iranian foreign ministry separately rejected the call for restraint from London, Paris and Berlin.
“Such demands are void of political logic, in complete contradiction to the principles and rules of international law, and excessive,” spokesman Nasser Kaanani said.
The Israeli military said on Monday that it was taking Iran’s statements seriously.
Read Also: Israel, Iran Reacts To Assassination Of Hamas Political Chief
“We are prepared at peak readiness in offence and defence, and we will act according to the directives of the government,” spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari told a briefing.
Hamas said on Sunday that any deal must be based on where talks were a month and a half ago, rather than any new rounds of negotiations.
Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza to destroy Hamas in response to an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on 7 October, during which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage.
More than 39,920 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.
Hundreds of people have also been killed in the almost daily exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and the Israeli military across the Israel-Lebanon border since the day after the start of the conflict.
