Iran hopes ‘legitimate’ right to defense not to impact Gaza truce
Iran’s permanent mission to the UN has expressed hope that the country’s “legitimate” right to defend its sovereignty will not harm the possible ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.
The mission said that the Islamic Republic’s right to retaliate against Israel’s terrorism inside Iran has nothing to do with the ongoing ceasefire talks.
The mission on Friday was asked whether Iran will postpone the response to Israel until next week’s talks regarding the ceasefire in Gaza, which has been under Israeli aggression since October last year.
“Our national security and sovereignty have been violated during the recent terrorist act of the Israeli regime. We have the right to legitimate defense and this has nothing to do with the Gaza ceasefire,” the mission said.
“But we hope that our response will be completed on time and in a way that does not harm the possible ceasefire,” the mission added.
“Establishing a lasting ceasefire in Gaza is our priority. Any agreement that Hamas accepts will be accepted by us,” it added.
Ismail Haniyeh, the chief of Hamas political bureau, and one of his bodyguards were assassinated in Tehran last week. Iranian political and military leadership, including the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian, have vowed to avenge Haniyeh’s blood.
A deputy commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps said on Saturday that the order issued by the Leader to make Israel pay for the assassination of the Hamas political bureau chief will be definitely carried out.
Speaking to Al Mayadeen TV, Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi said the orders given by Ayatollah Khamenei are explicit and crystal clear.
“The Leader of Revolution’s orders will be carried out in the best possible way, and this is Iran’s current duty,” the commander stated.
Meanwhile, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller was asked on Thursday whether a ceasefire deal would help in lowering tensions in the West Asia region, and about Iran’s possible retaliation against Israel.
“I will say that there are two sides of this coin. On one side of the coin, yes, we believe that a ceasefire would go a long way towards alleviating tensions in the region,” he said.
“On the other side of that coin, certainly any further escalation just makes all of the region’s problems more difficult. And one of the problems that we’re addressing is the conflict in Gaza and trying to reach a ceasefire,” he added.
On Friday, Iran’s permanent mission to the UN also talked about the existing channels of communication between Iran and the US, saying “There have always been direct and intermediary official channels for the transmission of messages” between the two sides, adding that “The preference of the parties is for the details to remain undisclosed.”