Iran has firmly dismissed calls from the UK and other Western nations to avoid retaliatory actions against Israel following the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last month. The rejection comes amid rising international efforts to de-escalate the situation.
In a rare phone conversation on Monday, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to “stand down its ongoing threats of a military attack.” However, Pezeshkian responded that retaliation was a “way to stop crime” and was Iran’s “legal right,” according to Iranian state media.
In response to the heightened tensions, Israel has raised its military alert level. The US has warned of a potential “significant set of attacks” by Iran or its proxies and has increased its military presence in the Middle East to protect Israel. The Iran-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon has also threatened retaliation following the killing of one of its top commanders in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut.
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On Monday evening, leaders from the UK, France, and Germany issued a joint statement urging Iran and its allies to “refrain from attacks that would further escalate regional tensions.” Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasized that any actions leading to further conflict would be detrimental to peace and stability.
Later, Prime Minister Starmer directly expressed his concerns to President Pezeshkian, marking the first such call since March 2021. Starmer warned of the “serious risk of miscalculation” and urged for “calm and careful consideration,” highlighting that war was not in anyone’s interest.
In response, Iranian state news agency Irna reported Pezeshkian’s stance that Western support for Israel had encouraged further “atrocities” and jeopardized peace and security. Pezeshkian maintained that while war is not beneficial, responding to aggression is a legal right and a necessary measure to prevent further crime and aggression.
Tehran Defies Western Pressure, Claims Retaliation Against Israel Is a ‘Legal Right’ world-news World News | Latest International News | Global World News | World News Today
