Published: 10:03, November 4, 2024
Iran president: Israeli position on ceasefire may affect Iran's response
By Xinhua
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian attends the extended format meeting of the BRICS summit in Kazan on Oct 23, 2024. (PHOTO / POOL VIA AFP)

TEHRAN - Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Sunday that Israel's position on ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon may impact the "type and intensity" of his country's response to the recent Israeli "aggression" on its territory.

He made the remarks at a cabinet meeting while stressing that Iran would in no way let any aggression against its territory and security go unanswered, according to a statement published on the website of his office.

"They know very well that in case of making any mistake against the Islamic Republic of Iran, they will receive a teeth-breaking response," Pezeshkian said.

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"However, if they reconsider their behavior, accept ceasefires (in Gaza and Lebanon) and stop killing the region's oppressed and innocent people, it may impact the type and intensity of our response."

In his speech, Pezeshkian also slammed the "hypocritical" approach adopted by the United States and certain European countries towards the crisis in the region, adding that the United States has always resorted to warmongering in different parts of the world.

The Israel Defense Forces announced on October 26 that it conducted "precise and targeted" airstrikes on targets in Iran in response to recent attacks from the country.

Speaking one day after the Israeli attack, Pezeshkian said his country would give a "fitting response" to Israel's "aggression".  

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Also on Sunday, Hossein Salami, chief commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), said the US policies are to blame for the terrorism and divisions in the Muslim world.

Head of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Hossein Salami speaks during a rally outside the former US embassy in Tehran, on Nov 3, 2024. (PHOTO / AFP)

Salami made the remarks at a rally to mark the 45th anniversary of the former US embassy takeover in Tehran and the "National Day of the Fight against Global Arrogance", also known as the "National Student Day".

Speaking at the gathering, the IRGC chief commander stressed that the "phenomenon of Takfiri (extremist) terrorism and bloody divisions in the Muslim world" were all outcomes of the US policies.

Salami described the United States as a "paradoxical identity", according to the official news agency IRNA.

He added while the United States spoke of global peace, security and order, it was the source of all "crimes, massacres and occupations" in the world.

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Iranians took to the streets on Sunday, staging a march to the premises of the former US embassy, chanting slogans against the US and Israel. The demonstrators waved flags of Iran, Hezbollah and Palestine, as well as pictures of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and slain leaders and commanders of Iran and the regional resistance groups.

Iranian demonstrators wave Iranian, Palestinian and Lebanon's Hezbollah flags in an annual rally in front of the former US Embassy in Tehran, Iran, Nov 3, 2024, marking the 45th anniversary of Iranian students' takeover of the embassy. (PHOTO / AFP)

At the end of the rally, the demonstrators issued a statement vowing allegiance to Iran's supreme leader and condemning Israel's "crimes" in Gaza and Lebanon, "which are being perpetrated with the direct participation and support of the United States".

READ MORE: Iran's supreme leader vows 'teeth-breaking response' against Israel, US

They also called on the international community to work towards the achievement of ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon.

A few months after the victory of Iran's Islamic Revolution in February 1979, Iranian university students took over the US embassy building, saying that the embassy was, based on the documents found in it, planning to overthrow the Islamic Republic and serving as an espionage base for the US government. Iran commemorates the takeover every year by holding nationwide rallies.