Araghchi: Iran not seeking war but ready for war situation
Baghdad against use of own airspace against Tehran: Iraqi FM
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said his country is not seeking war but is ready for a “war situation” amid Israel’s threats of retaliation for Iran’s recent missile attack on its military sites.
“We are fully prepared for a war situation. We are not afraid of war, but we do not want war, we want peace and we will work for a just peace in Gaza and Lebanon,” he said during a joint press conference with Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein in Baghdad.
Araghchi warned that the possibility of new conflict and rising tensions in the region has increased, stressing that all tensions in the region are rooted in the Israel’s crimes which the regime first committed in Gaza, then in Lebanon and may spread in other regional countries.
The Iranian foreign minister said that the attacks by the Israeli regime should be countered and its strikes in Gaza and Lebanon must be stopped.
Araghchi also in a post on X said Iran has “no red lines” in defending itself.
“While we have made tremendous efforts in recent days to contain an all-out war in our region, I say it clearly that we have no red lines in defending our people and interests,” Araghchi said.
The Iraqi foreign minister, for his part, said Baghdad was against a regional war spreading to Iran.
“The continuation of the war and its expansion towards the Islamic Republic of Iran and (Israel’s) exploitation of Iraqi airspace as a corridor is completely unacceptable and rejected,” Hussein said.
He said Baghdad had earlier warned about the consequences of Israeli regime’s aggression against Lebanon, adding that the continuation of the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon has threatened the security and stability of the region.
Hussein said the Israeli regime has threatened to target specific bases in Iran. He said such threats are aimed at dragging Iraq into the war.
He emphasized that his country is in contact with its friends to “push the phantom of war away from the region and Iraq.”
Iran fired 200 ballistic missiles towards sensitive military and intelligence targets across the occupied Palestinian territories on October 1 in response to the regime’s deadly atrocities against the country and other regional territories and the assassinations of resistance leaders.
Since then, Israel has repeatedly threatened that it will respond to Iran’s attack.
The Iranian foreign minister also held separate talks with the Iraqi prime minister and president during his visit to Iraq.
Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani emphasized that Baghdad’s priority is to stop Israel’s military aggression against Gaza and Lebanon.
Sudani said that Iraq, with the cooperation of international friends and partners, especially the European Union countries, is making all its efforts to stop the war.
He added that the Iraqi government had previously warned about Israel’s plans to expand the war in the region.
Araghchi expressed Iran’s appreciation for Iraq’s efforts in promoting peace and sending relief aids to those affected in Gaza and Lebanon. He stated that his visit aims to enhance coordination and consultation on the ongoing situation, confirming that Iran aligns with Iraq’s endeavors to prevent the war from escalating.