Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (Photo: AFP/Louai Beshara)
Meszár Tárik
17/10/2024 15:20
Iran has made it clear that it will defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity against any external threats that endanger its security or vital interests. However, the Persian nation officially claims it does not seek war, emphasizing that it is exercising its right to self-defense within the framework of international law. The tense situation is further aggravated by ongoing regional conflicts, which not only affect the relationship between the two countries but also involve armed clashes with allied groups. Diplomatic warnings and military threats alike indicate that the situation in the Middle East remains highly unstable, and any further actions could have serious consequences for the region’s peace and security.
The Iranian leadership has declared that it is “fully prepared to defend its sovereignty” should it be attacked by its arch-enemy Israel. The Islamic Republic fired nearly 200 missiles at Israel on October 1 in retaliation for the assassination of two of its closest allies, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, as well as an Iranian general.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant recently vowed that Israel’s response would be “deadly, precise, and surprising.” In a speech to the UN Security Council, Iran’s permanent representative to the UN, Amir Saeed Iravani, declared that the Islamic Republic is “fully ready to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity against any aggression targeting its vital interests and security.” Iran is not seeking “war or escalation” but is acting “in full accordance with international law to exercise its inherent right to self-defense and will notify the Security Council of its legitimate response.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also stated that “we do not want war,” but “we are not afraid of it, and we are prepared for any scenario.” The warnings have arisen against the backdrop of the ongoing war between Israel and the Hamas Palestinian armed group, which has been raging for over a year and has recently spread to Lebanon.
The author is a senior researcher at the Eurasia Center
