Iran Accuses Israel of Provoking Wider War in Middle East, Warns of Consequences
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused Israel on Monday of seeking to expand the war in the Middle East, warning that Israel is laying “traps” to drag Iran into a broader conflict. Speaking to journalists in New York, Pezeshkian criticized Israel’s actions, including deadly explosions of communication devices in Lebanon and the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
“They are dragging us to a point where we do not wish to go,” Pezeshkian said. “There is no winner in warfare. We are only fooling ourselves if we believe that.” He emphasized that Iran does not want the current hostilities between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah to escalate further, despite Israel’s repeated statements that it does not seek a wider war.
The remarks came after Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah sites in Lebanon killed at least 492 people on Monday, including 35 children, according to Lebanese officials. The strikes marked the deadliest day in Lebanon in decades, prompting tens of thousands of civilians to flee their homes. Israel has warned Lebanese civilians to evacuate areas where Hezbollah is believed to be storing weapons, while Hezbollah responded by firing rockets deep into northern Israel.
Pezeshkian expressed frustration over Western appeals for Iran to exercise restraint to avoid jeopardizing US efforts to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. He accused Israel of committing daily atrocities and warned that Tehran would not remain indifferent forever, though he stopped short of specifying any direct military response.
