Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told his Italian counterpart that Iran’s response to last month’s killing of Hamas’ political chief in Tehran “will be inevitable, precise, and calculated.”
A statement from Iran’s foreign ministry on Monday describing a phone call between Araqchi and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also reported Araqchi saying Iran does not seek to escalate tensions but does not fear it.
Iran has blamed Israel for the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, while Israel has neither confirmed nor denied involvement.
The killing helped raised fears of a wider regional conflict along with the war between Israel and Iran-backed Hamas in the Gaza Strip and daily cross-border fighting between Israeli forces and Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.
Araqchi’s comments followed a spike in Israel-Hezbollah fighting on Sunday during which each side launched hundreds of strikes.
“We are striking Hezbollah with surprising, crushing blows,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a Cabinet meeting. “This is another step towards changing the situation in the north and safely returning our residents to their homes. And, I repeat, this is not the final word.”
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