Iran(Washington Insider Magazine)-Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused Israel on Monday of attempting to provoke a wider conflict in the Middle East, asserting that Tehran has been intentionally refraining from retaliation to foster regional peace. Speaking at a roundtable during the UN General Assembly in New York, Pezeshkian emphasized, “If a larger war were to erupt, it will not benefit anyone throughout the world. It is Israel that seeks to create this wider conflict.”
Pezeshkian, who was inaugurated in July as a reformist leader, made his UN debut amidst escalating tensions following Israeli strikes on Lebanon, which came after a series of attacks targeting handheld communication devices linked to the Iranian-backed militia Hezbollah.
His remarks came in the wake of heightened tensions, particularly following the assassination of a Hamas political chief in Tehran, widely attributed to Israeli actions, which occurred shortly after his inauguration. Pezeshkian noted Western appeals for Iran to avoid retaliation, claiming that Iran has made efforts to refrain from responding in the hopes of achieving peace in the region.
“We tried to not respond. They kept telling us we are within reach of peace, perhaps in a week or so,” he stated. However, he lamented that peace remains elusive, pointing to ongoing Israeli actions that he described as “atrocities,” leading to the deaths of numerous civilians, including children and the elderly.
When pressed about Iran’s potential retaliation, Pezeshkian refrained from giving a direct answer but highlighted the need for Hezbollah to defend itself. “Curiously enough, we keep being labeled as the perpetrator of insecurity,” he said, questioning the portrayal of Iran in the current conflict dynamics.
Iran openly supports Hamas, which carried out an attack on Israel on October 7, resulting in 1,200 fatalities, primarily among civilians. In response, Israel’s military offensive in Gaza has reportedly killed at least 41,455 people, most of whom are civilians, according to figures from the territory’s health ministry. The United Nations has described these casualty figures as credible.
As tensions escalate and the situation remains volatile, Pezeshkian’s comments reflect Iran’s complex role in the ongoing conflicts, highlighting the broader implications for regional stability.
