Iran (Washington Insider Magazine) —Iran has firmly dismissed appeals from France, Germany, and the United Kingdom urging it to reduce its threats against Israel following the assassination of Hamas’s political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran last month. Nasser Kanaani, the spokesman for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, characterized these requests as lacking political logic and contradictory to international law, asserting that they effectively endorse Israeli actions.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Kanaani criticized the European nations for failing to condemn what he termed “international crimes” committed by Israel. He highlighted their perceived hypocrisy in demanding that Iran refrain from retaliating against violations of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Kanaani emphasized Iran’s commitment to deterring Israeli actions and urged the three nations to confront the ongoing war in Gaza and Israel’s aggressive tactics. The backdrop of these tensions includes the assassination of Haniyeh, who was killed on July 31 while attending the inauguration of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. This attack occurred shortly after the Israeli strike that killed Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut, further escalating regional hostilities amid Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which has resulted in nearly 40,000 casualties.
Kanaani attributed the escalation of the Gaza crisis to the inaction of the United Nations Security Council and the unwavering political and military support provided by Western governments to Israel.
In response, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer released a joint statement on Monday, advocating for de-escalation and calling on Iran and its allies to avoid actions that could exacerbate tensions. Scholz and Starmer separately communicated with Pezeshkian, expressing their concerns about potential military escalations and the urgent need to halt the cycle of violence in the region.
However, Pezeshkian affirmed Iran’s right to respond to aggression, reinforcing the nation’s stance amid ongoing international pressures.