TEHRAN – Iranian acting Foreign Mminister Ali Baqeri Kani has declared Iran’s firm determination to hold Israel accountable for its actions that jeopardize regional stability.

In a series of posts on X early Sunday, Baqeri Kani revealed that he had engaged in discussions with senior diplomats from Jordan and Egypt during his second phone call with them within the last 48 hours.

Baqeri Kani emphasized the escalating crisis in West Asia, attributing it to the "continued crimes and reckless behavior of the ruling criminal gang in Tel Aviv." He urged Muslim countries in the region to unify their stance and coordinate efforts to halt the genocide in Gaza and the broader aggression of the Zionist regime.

His comments followed a recent high-profile incident where Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of the Palestinian Hamas Resistance group, was reportedly killed in an Israeli attack on his residence in Tehran. 

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) condemned the attack, describing it as a terrorist act involving a short-range projectile with a seven-kilogram warhead. The IRGC criticized Israel for executing the attack with U.S. support and warned of impending severe retaliation.

Hours before the Tehran attack, Israel had also targeted and killed Fuad Shukr, a senior commander of the Lebanese Resistance group Hezbollah, in Beirut. These dual attacks occur amidst ongoing Israeli operations in Gaza, which have resulted in the deaths of approximately 39,550 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, over the past ten months.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has emphasized the dire and chaotic conditions in Gaza, describing the situation as "total lawlessness."

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which ordered Tel Aviv to immediately halt its military operation in the southern city of Rafah, where over a million Palestinians had sought refuge from the war before it was invaded on May 6.

Baqeri Kani warns of widening scope of Israeli crimes

Ali Baqeri Kani also spoke with Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, about the Israeli assassination of Ismail Haniyeh.

During their conversation, Baqeri Kani praised Pakistan’s support for Palestinians and criticized the widening scope of Israeli actions, which have now affected Yemen, Beirut, and Tehran. 

He stressed that these actions have crossed a critical line for Iran, promising two outcomes: a strong Iranian response and a call for Islamic and regional countries to counteract the destabilizing actions of Israel.

Baqeri Kani also suggested convening an extraordinary meeting of Islamic nations and sought Pakistan’s backing for this initiative, urging it to help prevent further Israeli aggression.

He further called for increased collaboration to support Gaza and address the Israeli regime's actions in the region.

In response, the Pakistani Foreign Minister offered his condolences for Haniyeh’s assassination and supported the idea of an extraordinary meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). He emphasized the need for the Islamic world to remain alert to Israeli actions and condemned the assassination in Tehran as a clear breach of international law and Iranian sovereignty.

The assassination of Ismail Haniyeh on Wednesday, has intensified tensions. Haniyeh, who was in Iran to attend the inauguration ceremony of the newly elected President Masoud Pezeshkian, was targeted in an attack that has been widely condemned by many countries. The Iranian government has vowed a decisive and regretful response to Israel's actions.