Tehran rejects U.S., European calls to 'stand down'

(ANSA) - ROME, AUG 13 - Iran on Tuesday rejected a call by the US and European leaders, including Italy, to "stand down", stating it is not seeking "permission" to attack Israel, which it has accused of killing the leader of Hamas Ismail Haniyeh on its territory.
    "The Islamic Republic is determined to defend its sovereignty … and doesn't ask anybody for authorization to exercise its legitimate rights", said foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani in a statement.
    Earlier on Monday, the United States, France, Germany, Italy and Great Britain asked Iran to "stand down", according to a joint statement issued after a phone call between US President Joe Biden and the leaders of the four countries. Biden and the French, German, Italian and British leaders asked Teheran to stop threatening a military attack against Israel which would have grave consequences for regional security as concerns have mounted that such an attack could escalate into a wider Middle East conflict.
    "We called 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", said the statement issued late Monday.
    The allies also expressed their support for ongoing efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages.
    Also on Monday, Iran reaffirmed its right to react to last month's assassinations of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, and of a Hezbollah leader in Beirut after a long phone call between Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and his Iranian counterpart Ali Bagher, in which he urged restraint in attacking Israel so as to avert jeopardising Mideast peace hopes. (ANSA).