TEHRAN, Iran: Iran does not seek to escalate Middle East tensions, its Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told Italian top diplomat Antonio Tajani, saying that its retaliation for the killing of the Hamas leader in Tehran will be “definite and calculated.”
In a phone call, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani congratulated Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on his new role and expressed concern over growing regional insecurity.
Tajani urged restraint from all parties and sought Iran’s assistance in reducing tensions in West Asia. Araghchi responded by affirming that Iran would deliver a precise and calculated response to the recent terrorist act by the Zionist regime in Tehran.
While emphasizing that Iran does not seek to escalate tensions, Araghchi assured that the nation is prepared to defend itself. Both ministers agreed on the importance of continued bilateral consultations.
Earlier, the United Nations and Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati issued urgent calls for de-escalation after a significant surge in hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. Following Israel’s strikes on Lebanon and Hezbollah’s retaliatory attacks on Israeli positions, the UN and Lebanon’s leadership expressed deep concern over the escalating violence.
In a joint statement, the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) urged all parties to cease fire and avoid further actions that could worsen the situation.
They emphasized the importance of returning to the cessation of hostilities outlined in UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah and mandates that only Lebanese forces and UN peacekeepers should be armed in southern Lebanon.
Lebanon’s Prime Minister, during an emergency meeting, highlighted his ongoing efforts to engage with international allies to halt the escalation. He reiterated Lebanon’s support for international efforts aimed at achieving a ceasefire in Gaza and called for the immediate cessation of Israeli aggression and full implementation of Resolution 1701.
The situation remains tense, with the conflict underscoring the urgent need for diplomatic intervention.
