Iran does not seek regional war, opts for retaliation over Israel’s assassination
A woman walks amids vehicles next to a billboard of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian (R) and late Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh at the Valise square in Tehran, on August 1, 2024. (AFP Photo)
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed that while Iran does not seek war, it will respond to Israel’s assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh.
What happened: Haniyeh was killed in Tehran on July 31 after attending Pezeshkian’s swearing-in ceremony. Both Hamas and Iran blamed Israel for the assassination, though Israel has not officially responded.
Iran seeks revenge, not war
Despite Iran’s stance against escalating conflict, Pezeshkian asserted that Israel would face consequences for its actions. He stressed that Iran never seeks to escalate tensions or trigger a war in the region but will respond to Israel’s crimes.
Russian diplomatic talks in Tehran
Secretary of the Russian Security Council Sergey Shoygu on Monday arrived in Iran’s capital Tehran on a working visit.
Pezeshkian discussed the issue with Russia’s Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoygu, emphasizing that Israel’s actions aim to ignite regional tensions through the assassination of Haniyeh and other crimes against Palestinians.
The office of the Russian Security Council, who is Moscow’s former defense minister, holds talks with his Iranian counterpart Ali Akbar Ahmadian and Chief of Iran’s General Staff Mohammad Bagheri. The talks in Tehran cover a wide range of issues involving bilateral cooperation.
Shoygu’s Tehran visit is part of the ongoing cooperation between Iran and Russia, who have bolstered bilateral ties in recent years amid growing tensions with the U.S.
