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.
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