Iran does not seek war, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced yesterday, warning that there will be a tougher response to Israel’s counterattack to missile attacks.
“We are not looking for war. Israel forces us to react,” Pezeshkian said in Qatar.
He criticized Israel for the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas, recognized as a terrorist by the US and the EU, in Tehran in July. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied its involvement in the murder.
“We also want security and peace. It was Israel that killed Haniyeh in Tehran,” the Iranian president said.
Pezeshkyan arrived in Qatar a day after launching ballistic missiles in the direction of Israel to participate in the summit of Asian countries.
“If the Zionist regime (Israel) does not stop its crimes, it will receive a harsher response,” said Pezeshkian, noting that the US and European countries should urge Israel not to destabilize the region.
According to the Israeli side, on the evening of October 1, a total of about 200 rockets were fired from Iran in the direction of Israel. Later, the Israel Defense Forces clarified that about 180 rockets were fired.
Tehran said Tuesday’s attack on Israel was aimed solely at military targets and called the attack revenge for the killing of leaders of radical Hamas and Lebanon-based Hezbollah.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised to take retaliatory measures. “Iran made a big mistake tonight, and it will pay for it,” Netanyahu said.
The American news website Axios wrote that Israel can target Iranian oil production facilities and other strategic locations.
On October 2, around midday, Iran announced the end of its largest ever military missile attack on Israel.
“Our actions will end until the Israeli regime decides to provoke further retaliation. In this case, however, our response will be stronger and more powerful,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in his message to X.