We do not want war but we are ready to respond to Israeli attacks

Tehran –

President IranMasoud Pezeshkian, who Iran had no intention of going to war with Israel. But Iran is ready to respond appropriately to Israeli attacks on Iranian military sites.

“We do not want war but we will defend the rights of our country and our state,” Pezeshkian said at a cabinet meeting, reported by AFP, on Monday (28/10/2024).

“Iran will give a befitting response to the attack of the Zionist regime,” he said.

Last Saturday, Israel carried out airstrikes on military sites in Iran in response to Tehran’s October 1 attack on Israel, which was in retaliation for the killing of Iranian-backed militant leaders and a revolutionary guard commander.

Israel has warned Tehran not to respond.

Pezeshkian blamed rising regional tensions over Israeli aggression and US aid to the country, which Tehran does not recognize.

“If the aggression and crimes of the Zionist regime continue, tensions will spread,” Pezeshkian said.

“The United States promised to end the war in exchange for our ban, but they did not keep their promise,” he said.

Iran has called for an end to the Gaza war, caused by an attack on Israel on October 7 last year by the Tehran-backed Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Iran also supports other armed groups in the region, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah which has been fighting Israeli forces for the past month after a year of low intensity fire exchange.

(fast/fast)