Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Monday that Israel is setting “traps” to drag Iran into war, comments that came amid a dramatic escalation of Israel’s bombing campaign in Lebanon.
Pezeshkian, who is in New York for the UN General Assembly, told reporters that Iran wants peace in the region while Israel wants war.
“We don’t want to fight,” he said. “It’s Israel that wants to drag everyone into war and destabilize the region. … They are dragging us to a point where we do not wish to go.”
Pezeshkian also discussed the July 31 Israeli assassination of Hamas’s political chief, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran, warning it will not go “unanswered” but also adding that Iran does not wish to be “the causes of instability in the region.”
The Iranian leader said that Iran waited to respond due to US warnings that it could disrupt ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas. “They told us earlier to prevent a larger war to wait another week or so for peace to be obtained,” Pezeshkian said. “Clearly the politicians that lie to us these days … lie to you as well.”
Back in April, the US directly intervened to defend Israel and intercepted Iranian missiles and drones that were fired in response to the Israeli bombing of Iran’s consulate in Damascus, which killed several Iranians, including a senior Quds Force commander.
The US is vowing to defend Israel from any future attacks, whether launched by Iran or if Israel requests help with Hezbollah attacks. “We’re obviously supporting the defense of Israel, should they be threatened or attacked and call upon us for support, which could include the kinds of scenarios you saw on April 14, when Iran conducted its drone and missile attack,” Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said on Monday.
"that Israel is setting “traps”" So don't fall into the trap.
They haven't. That's why Israel keeps setting them.
Israel will sure fall in Hezbollah trap…!
The US and Israel are among the most violent nations the world has ever known. The do war and children's death for money. Boycott US and Israel.
That AP article was really interesting. They don’t support what Russia is doing in Ukraine. He said “it’s childish” that the US says they are interfering in the election. He said both Israel and the US know that Iran didn’t have notice of Oct 7th in advance.
It pains me to say this, there is nothing Iran can do to stop the US-Israeli war on Iran. I hope I'm wrong. I wish I was wrong. In fact, I would love to find out I am wrong. …I don't think so.
In retrospect, it was a poor decision for Iran not to develop nukes and it’s sad that this is where we are in history.
… And you believe if Iran had nukes Israel and US would stop threatening Iran…?! It would be the opposite five fold…!
Look at nuclear armed Russia constantly being threatened by US, NATO and Ukraine…!
Look at nuclear armed North Korea constantly being threatened by US and South Korea…!
Look at Pakistan and India having the history of threatening each other…!
An interesting fellow. He spoke with reporters in free exchange for more than an hour, answering all questions asked. Would Trump, Harris, or (laugh) Biden be able to do anything like this?
As for the heart of the message … people in the global south know the facts. It's just that the "west" still has so much money and military power that all need to tread lightly. But empires of fear rarely last too long. There has to be some morality at the heart of it.
Iran is looking weak, always making the excuse of not wanting to be dragged into a war. Wake up Iran, you are at war, you are failing those you say you will protect. The war started by the Zionist has never stopped, maybe paused, only to recharge and attack again. Time for Muslim/Arab/African Nations to put an end to the Zionist Terrorist of Israel.
The problem is that Israel has no stop gap. And it is killing everyone. There are no compunctions there against using a nuke on Iran.
Iran enjoys significant regional power, can project a certain amount of force via missile and through proxies like Hezbollah, and could certainly do well against an actual invasion of its home territory. But as a conventional offensive force outside that territory, it would have difficulties operating successfully if the Gulf regimes threw in against it, and would be done the minute the US put more than a finger on the scale.
Iran’s rulers aren’t idiots, and they know the score.
Trap or no trap. Israel smells weakness and “the leader” is in fear of losing it all. If they were in position of strenght they would have done something about by now. Not even Turkey, the second largest military, is willing to put their necks on the line. Bottomline, the cult of Baal will continue with their rampage because they can.
That's because Israel has nukes and alone with the US has a 'First Use' policy, permitting their use for any reason, or no reason at all.
Regional countries can’t be held hostage by a one madman because he is threatening them with nukes. At some point all those who did nothing now will soon learn they are next on the chopping block.
As Carlton posted prior, the US empire planned to take out 7 countries in the ME, which coincided with the Yinon plan, and ended with Iran.
The US empire is the actor here. The US empire is the puppeteer pulling strings. Israel is not a rogue state, Israel is the US
leadershipruler and vice versa. There is no Israel without US subsidy.Iran thinks it is dealing with rational consideration. It is not. It’s a plot. The same plot that brought Russia to war in Ukraine. I’m surprised they don’t see it. Maybe they just don’t want to say it out loud.
I think Iran is too smart to fall into such a trap. They have many friends… 😉
Honesty is the best policy and one can never have too many friends!
Israel needs some friends too, which is why I pray for them all the time to find the one true Christ! Make a joyful noise!
”Let there be Peace on earth and let it begin with me! With every step I take, a Peace for eternity! With God as the father, Christ as the son, Mary as the mother! There will be Peace for everyone, including blessed Israel”….
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