Iran says it does not want regional escalation but must ‘punish’ Israel
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Mourners carrying the coffin of assassinated Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh during his funeral in Tehran on Aug 1.
PHOTO: REUTERS
DUBAI - Iran is not looking to escalate regional tensions but believes it needs to punish Israel to prevent further instability, its Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Aug 5, following the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last week.
“Iran seeks to establish stability in the region, but this will only come with punishing the aggressor and creating deterrence against the adventurism of the Zionist regime (Israel),” Mr Nasser Kanaani said, adding that action from Tehran was inevitable.
Mr Kanaani called on the United States to stop supporting Israel, saying the international community had failed in its duty to safeguard stability in the region and should support the “punishment of the aggressor”.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps’ top commander Hossein Salami on Aug 5 reiterated the elite group’s threat that Israel “will receive punishment in due time”.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry called in ambassadors and heads of missions residing in Tehran for a meeting with acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani on Aug 5 to reiterate Iran’s will to respond to Israel.
An emergency meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation will be held on Aug 7 at Iran’s request to discuss the killing of Haniyeh and Iran’s response, said Mr Kanaani.
Meanwhile, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk on Aug 5 called for an urgent de-escalation in the Middle East over fears that the Gaza war could spread.
“I am deeply worried about the rising risk of a wider conflict in the Middle East and plead with all parties, along with those states with influence, to act urgently to de-escalate what has become a very precarious situation,” said Mr Turk in a statement.
Tehran and Iran-aligned groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah have accused Israel of killing Haniyeh on July 31. His death was one in a series of killings of senior Hamas figures as the war in Gaza between Hamas and Israel nears its 11th month.
Israeli officials have not claimed responsibility.
Mr Turk said: “Already, over the past 10 months, civilians – mostly women and children – have endured unbearable pain and suffering as a result of the bombs and guns.
“Everything, and I mean everything, must be done to avoid this situation spiralling further into an abyss that will only have even more terrible consequences for civilians.” REUTERS, AFP
