Iran Urges Ceasefire, Warns of Potential Retaliation if Aggression Continues in Region
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has called for an immediate ceasefire from Israel, warning of a strong Iranian response if aggression in the region continues. In a Cabinet meeting, Pezeshkian condemned the U.S. and Europe for supporting Israel’s actions and reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to peace. The president also pointed to recent Israeli actions against Hamas leaders and Lebanon as provocations, while Iran’s Supreme Leader, Sayyed Ali Khamenei, echoed these sentiments, warning that the U.S. and Israel would face consequences for ongoing hostilities.
Pezeshkian on Sunday called for an immediate ceasefire by Israel, warning that continued aggression would invite a robust Iranian response. In remarks during a Cabinet session, Pezeshkian condemned the "double standards" exhibited by the United States and European nations, accusing them of supporting Israel’s actions in the region. “Today, nations across the Middle East see Iran as a force for peace and stability, while the criminal Zionist regime is seeking to deepen crisis and conflict,” he stated.
Reflecting on Iran's National Day of the Fight Against Global Arrogance, Pezeshkian emphasized that Iran has historically refrained from initiating conflicts, contrasting this with what he described as the United States' track record of fueling wars, including in the Middle East. By siding with the occupation, he argued, the U.S. was “further stoking the flames of war” across the region.
President Pezeshkian detailed incidents of recent aggression, mentioning the targeted assassination attempt on former Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh as an example of what he called Israel’s actions to incite “bloodshed and instability.” He further alleged that Israel had expanded its hostilities to Lebanon, intensifying regional tensions.
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Pezeshkian reaffirmed Iran's stance on defending its sovereignty and warned of a “crushing response” should Israel encroach on Iranian territory. He suggested that Iran’s reaction would depend on Israel’s willingness to accept a ceasefire and halt ongoing operations in Gaza and Lebanon, stating, “If they reconsider their behavior… it may influence the type and severity of our response.”
Echoing these sentiments, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Sayyed Ali Khamenei, also warned the U.S. and Israel of significant consequences for their actions. Speaking on the anniversary of the 1979 takeover of the U.S. embassy in Tehran, Khamenei framed Iran’s readiness to respond as “a logical, ethical, and religiously grounded action,” assuring that Iran would not allow any act of hostility to go unanswered.
Khamenei stressed that while Iran's responses are not “acts of revenge,” they align with both religious and international norms. The nation, he noted, is constantly preparing itself politically and militarily, assuring Iranians that Iran will defend itself against any aggression aimed at it or its allies.