Iran rejects Western calls to stand down Israel threat
(VOVWORLD) - Iran on Tuesday rejected Western calls to stand down its threat to retaliate against Israel for the killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran late last month.
 Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani (Photo: IRNA/VNA) |
In a statement, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said the call for restraint by France, Germany, and Great Britain lacks political logic and contradicts the principles of international law. Iran and its allies blame Israel for killing Haniyeh on July 31 during his visit to Tehran for the swearing-in of President Masoud Pezeshkian. Israel has not commented.
The killing has increased the risk of a wider conflict in the Middle East. With tensions already high due to the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, Western diplomats have scrambled to avert an all-out war.
The leaders of the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and the US recently discussed the situation in the Middle East and the serious consequences for regional security if Iran retaliates against Israel. In a statement on Monday, they urged Iran to de-escalate.