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Iran reiterates inherent right to punish 'Israeli gang', says West’s silence emboldens Tel Aviv

Ali Baqeri Kani, Iran’s acting Foreign Minister (L) and Josep Borrell, EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs

Iran will certainly exercise its inherent and legitimate right to punish the "criminal Zionist gang" for its terrorist attack on Wednesday, which resulted in the killing of Hamas politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, saying the European Union's silence has emboldened Israel to commit atrocities.

Ali Baqeri Kani, acting Foreign Minister, made these remarks during a phone call with Josep Borrell, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs.

Baqeri emphasized that the Israeli regime's terrorist act, in addition to violating Iran's territorial integrity and national sovereignty, has endangered regional and international peace and stability.

The top Iranian diplomat criticized certain European countries for aligning with the US to prevent the UN Security Council from condemning Haniyeh's assassination during an extraordinary session on Wednesday.

Baqeri stressed that the pro-Israel stance of these states, evident in their silence regarding the Zionists' warmongering in Yemen and Lebanon, has emboldened the regime to continue its aggressive actions, jeopardizing regional peace and stability.

He urged the EU to fulfill its responsibility to maintain international peace and security by pressuring the Israeli regime to cease its crimes.

He warned that a lack of serious action by the EU to restrain the Zionist regime would encourage the criminal gang in Tel Aviv to continue actions that endanger regional and international peace and stability.

Borrell acknowledged Iran's legitimate right to defend its territorial integrity and sovereignty and expressed concern about the increasing tensions and the potential for a full-scale war in the region and its consequences for the people.

Haniyeh, who was in Tehran to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Iran's newly-elected President Masoud Pezeshkian, was assassinated along with his bodyguard in an Israeli attack on his residence on Wednesday.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has warned the Israeli regime of a "harsh response" for the assassination of Haniyeh, stating that the Islamic Republic has to avenge the blood of the Palestinian resistance leader.

"The criminal and terrorist Zionist regime martyred our dear guest in our homeland and left us bereaved, but it also set the ground for a harsh punishment for itself," the Leader said.


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