The U.S. and its allies are putting tremendous pressure on Iran not to retaliate for the July 31 Israeli assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, despite Iran having been the victim of Israel’s violation of its sovereignty. Yesterday, the U.S., U.K., France, Germany, and Italy issued a joint statement calling 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.” The statement also expressed “full support for ongoing efforts to de-escalate tensions and reach a ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza.”
Afterwards, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian spoke to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer by phone. According to the Starmer’s office he urged Iran to “refrain” from attacking Israel. He told Pezeshkian there was a “serious risk of miscalculation and now was the time for calm and careful consideration.” President Pezeshkian stated that from the point of view of the Islamic Republic of Iran, war in any part of the world is not in the interest of any country, emphasizing, however, that a punitive response to an aggressor is a legal right of states and a way to stop crime and aggression, reported Islamic Republic News Agency.
Pezeshkian emphasized that the assassination of Haniyeh violated “all humanitarian and legal principles,” doubling down on Iran’s pledge that it will deliver a strong response to the Israeli regime for the brazen act of terrorism on its soil. Earlier in the day, Pezeshkian told Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, as well, that Iran reserves the right to defend itself and respond to any act of aggression in accordance with “all international norms and regulations.”
