SAEDNEWS: Tehran would not retreat from its legitimate right to respond to the Israeli assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the Iranian foreign minister says.
According to SAEDNEWS, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a phone conversation with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Friday, marking a significant engagement between the two nations. Lammy extended his congratulations to Araghchi on his appointment as Iran's Minister of Foreign Affairs, viewing the establishment of the 14th government as a new opportunity to enhance diplomatic consultations.
During the discussion, Lammy addressed the volatile situation in Gaza and called for Iran's involvement in reducing tensions across the region. In response, Araghchi clarified that while the Islamic Republic does not seek to escalate the conflict or increase regional tensions, it will not shy away from its "absolute right to respond to the criminal and terrorist act of the Zionist regime in Tehran."
The two diplomats also covered a variety of mutual concerns, including discussions surrounding the lifting of sanctions, and expressed a shared desire to continue the negotiations.
Further complicating the geopolitical landscape, recent developments have seen the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh and one of his bodyguards in Tehran on July 31, as reported by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The IRGC described the attack as "designed and implemented by the Zionist regime and supported by the criminal government of America."
In the wake of this incident, Iranian officials have made strong statements vowing a decisive response to Israel. Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei remarked that Israel's actions have "prepared the ground for harsh punishment for itself."
Earlier in August, Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani, a political adviser to Khamenei, utilized the X social media platform to signal that measures have been taken to address the "regime that only understands the language of force." He accused the Israeli regime of seeking war and disrupting ceasefire negotiations through violent acts, including the targeting of worshipers at the Al-Tabin school in Gaza and the assassination of Haniyeh.
Shamkhani emphasized that preparations for a severe response to Israel have been set in motion after legal, diplomatic, and media processes were followed. As tensions rise, the international community watches closely as Iran navigates its foreign relations amid escalating regional conflicts.
