Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian accused Israel on Monday of deliberately trying to provoke a broader conflict in the Middle East. In remarks to the media, Pezeshkian said that while Israel publicly claims it does not seek a wider war, its actions tell a different story.
He cited last week’s deadly explosions of pagers and electronic devices in Lebanon, which he blamed on Israel, and the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran ahead of his inauguration, as examples of Israeli provocations aimed at widening the conflict.
“They are pulling us towards a place we do not wish to go,” Pezeshkian said. “In warfare, there is no winner. Believing otherwise is self-deception.”
Since October 8, 2023, Hezbollah, backed by Iran, has regularly attacked Israeli military posts and communities along the shared border, with Israel retaliating through airstrikes, according to The Times of Israel.
On Monday, Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon reportedly killed at least 492 people, including civilians, as Israel warned that its strikes on Hezbollah would intensify. Lebanese civilians were told to evacuate areas where Hezbollah was believed to be hiding weapons. In response, Hezbollah launched volleys of rockets deep into Israel, setting off sirens as far south as settlements near Tel Aviv.
Pezeshkian, speaking from New York, referenced ongoing appeals from the West urging Iran not to escalate the situation further. “We tried not to respond, believing peace was within reach. But Israel continues its atrocities, killing more civilians—men, women, children, even targeting hospitals,” he said.
When asked if Iran would retaliate directly, Pezeshkian did not provide a clear answer but defended Hezbollah’s actions, implying that they had no choice but to defend themselves. “If Hezbollah didn’t act, who would?” he asked, pushing back against claims that Iran is the source of instability.
Earlier this year, Iran launched a missile-and-drone attack against Israel following the assassination of several Iranian generals in Syria, but otherwise, it has preferred to engage Israel via proxy groups like Hezbollah.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon, warning of “dangerous consequences.” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi shared images of destruction in Lebanon, accusing Israel of crimes enabled by the U.S., and vowed that Iran would not remain indifferent.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Lebanese civilians to heed evacuation warnings, assuring them they would be able to return after the fighting ends.
In response to the violence, Egypt and Turkey called on the international community, particularly the United Nations Security Council, to take immediate action to stop the escalation, warning of a potential regional war.
As of Monday, Hezbollah reported that 506 of its fighters had been killed in clashes with Israel, along with 79 other militants and dozens of civilians. Israel has reported 26 civilian casualties and the deaths of 22 soldiers in Hezbollah-led attacks.
I am an experienced writer, analyst, and author. My exposure in English journalism spans more than 28 years. In the past, I have been working with daily The Muslim (Lahore Bureau), daily Business Recorder (Lahore/Islamabad Bureaus), Daily Times, Islamabad, daily The Nation (Lahore and Karachi). With daily The Nation, I have served as Resident Editor, Karachi. Since 2009, I have been working as a Freelance Writer/Editor for American organizations.
