Pezeshkian Suggests Gaza and Lebanon Ceasefire Could Soften Iran’s Response to Israeli Attack

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian suggested on Sunday that a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon could soften Iran’s planned attack on Israel in response to the recent Israeli airstrikes on Iranian territory.

“If they (the Israelis) make a revision in their behavior, accept a ceasefire, and stop killing the oppressed and innocent people of the region, it could have an effect on the type and intensity of our response,” Pezeshkian said, according to Iran’s PressTV.

He still insisted that the Israeli attack on Iran would not go “unanswered.” Pezeshkian’s comments came a day after Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed there would be a “crushing response” against both Iran and the US.

“Enemies, including America and the Zionist regime, should know that they will undoubtedly receive a crushing response for what they do against Iran and the resistance front,” Khamenei said.

The US has vowed to defend Israel from any Iranian attack and deployed additional military assets to the region for that purpose, making them potential targets of the Iranian military. Media reports have said Israel is expecting Iran to launch an attack from Iraqi territory.

Israel launched the airstrikes against military targets in Iran on October 26 in retaliation for the October 1 Iranian missile barrage that was fired into Israel in response to a string of Israeli escalations and assassinations in the region. The Israeli attack killed four Iranian soldiers and one civilian and did some damage to Iranian air defenses, but the extent is unclear.