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Iran insists it does not want tensions after the attack on Israel, which was aimed at “deterrence”

Iran insisted this morning that it does not want to escalate tensions in the Middle East and assured that the attack against Israel was “necessary, proportionate and directed towards military objectives” to create a “deterrent capability”. “Iran does not want to increase tensions in the region,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said at a news conference in Tehran.

The diplomat warned that Tehran “will take stronger action than ever to deter and punish the aggressor for any illegal and irrational actions”, although his country adheres to the UN Charter and the principles of international law.

“The actions of the Islamic Republic of Iran were necessary and proportionate and directed towards military objectives,” Kanani said, adding that he regretted the lack of action by the United Nations Security Council and the United States, the United Kingdom and France. On 1 April, an attack on the Iranian Consulate in Damascus killed six Syrians and seven members of the Revolutionary Guard, including several senior officials.

“Iran took the action with the aim of preventing the repetition of the crime of the Zionist regime (Israel) and protecting its security and national interests,” Kanani said.

Finally, in the face of possible reactions from Western countries and calls for new sanctions against Iran, Kanani said they should “appreciate Tehran’s restraint.” “Instead of adopting irrational actions, these countries should appreciate Iran’s restraint and responsible behavior toward security and peace in recent months,” the diplomat said.

Following the missile and drone attacks against Israel, Iran has launched a diplomatic offensive, with talks with at least nine countries in which it has told Tehran its aim was deterrence and it would respond to new Israeli aggressions. Iranian Foreign Minister Hussein Amir Abdolhian has been in talks with his counterparts from Russia, Qatar, India, Malta, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey and the European Union in the hours since the bombing. (efe)