WANA (August 07) – At noon today, Wednesday, in response to a phone call from French President Emmanuel Macron, expressing concern over rising regional tensions following a terrorist act by the Zionist regime resulting in the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, head of Hamas’ political bureau, and urging restraint from Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian stated:

 

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has always played a pivotal role in establishing peace, stability, and security in the region and the world, and in preventing tension, insecurity, and war. However, the Zionist regime, with its criminal and terrorist actions against the oppressed and defenseless people of Gaza and the assassination of martyr Haniyeh, a formal guest of the Islamic Republic of Iran, seeks to ignite conflict in the region. Unfortunately, the United States and Western countries, instead of condemning this regime, support it in committing crimes, genocide, and terrorism.”

 

The President emphasized Iran’s right to appropriate responses to such actions and criticized the passive behavior of the United States and Western countries following the Zionist regime’s attack on the Iranian embassy in Damascus and the assassination of Hamas’ political bureau chief in Tehran. He stated: “The U.S. and Western countries, with a contradictory and double-standard approach, support a regime that adheres to none of the international laws and regulations and commits heinous acts in the region, while, regrettably, urging the victimized countries to refrain from responding and to show restraint.”

 

Pezeshkian further stressed that as long as the Zionist regime, with the political, financial, military, and media support of the U.S. and Western countries, comfortably continues its genocide, crimes, and terrorism, the region and the world will not see stability, security, and peace. He added: “If the U.S. and Western countries are genuinely seeking to prevent war and insecurity in the region, they must immediately stop selling arms and supporting the Zionist regime, force it to cease its genocide and attacks on Gaza, and accept a ceasefire.”

 

The President reiterated that while the Islamic Republic of Iran considers the avoidance of war and the pursuit of global peace and security among its fundamental principles, it will never remain silent in the face of aggression against its interests and security within the framework of international treaties and laws.