Western support for Israel imperils global security: Pezeshkian
’Iran views punitive response to aggression as legitimate right’
The Iranian president said the international bodies’ silence on Israeli atrocities as well as Western countries’ support for the regime encourage further perpetration of crimes and endanger global security.
Masoud Pezeshkian made the remarks in a phone call with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday.
“The silence of international bodies on the unprecedented and inhumane crimes of the Zionist regime in Gaza and the terrorist acts of the regime in the region, in addition to certain European countries’ support for the entity are irresponsible and in violation of international regulations,” the Iranian president said.
He noted that such practices have emboldened the regime to continue its crimes, and have threatened regional and international peace and security.
Talks between the two leaders came as Iran has vowed to avenge the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh who was killed in an attack in Tehran on July 31.
Iran has blamed Israel for the Haniyeh’s killing, who had traveled to Tehran to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Pezeshkian. Israel has not commented.
The attack came hours after an Israeli strike in Lebanon’s capital Beirut killed a senior commander of Hezbollah.
‘Punitive response’
Pezeshkian emphasized that while Iran believes that war is not in anyone’s interest, the Islamic Republic views punitive response to aggression as the legitimate right of countries and a proper mechanism to stop atrocities and brutalities.
Starmer told Pezeshkian he was deeply concerned by the situation in West Asia 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,” Downing Street cited Starmer as saying, adding that he had underlined his commitment to an immediate cease-fire, the release of all prisoners and captives and increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The focus should be on diplomatic negotiations, Starmer said.
The British prime minister also asked Pezeshkian to refrain from launching an attack on Israel in retaliation for the assassination of Haniyeh.
It was the first call between a UK prime minister and an Iranian president since March 2021 when former British leader Boris Johnson spoke to former Iranian president Hassan Rouhani.
Fears of a wider conflict in the West Asia have been growing following the assassination of the Hamas leader and a senior Hezbollah commander.
The UK also issued a joint statement with the US, France, Italy and Germany, urging Iran to end its threats of an attack on Israel.
They called on Iran to “stand down its ongoing threats of a military attack against Israel and discussed the serious consequences for regional security should such an attack take place.”
In response, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani criticized the Western call for restraint.
“The declaration by France, Germany and Britain, which raised no objection to the international crimes of the Zionist regime, brazenly asks Iran to take no deterrent action against a regime which has violated its sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he said in a statement.
Iranian president Pezeshkian also held a separate phone call with Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday, during which the Iranian president said regional and international peace, stability and security are a centerpiece to Iran’s foreign policy.
Referring to the war in Gaza, the Iranian president said the Israeli regime is violating all international treaties and regulations and pressing ahead with its genocide in the besieged Palestinian territory.