TEHRAN – Iran's acting foreign minister, Ali Baqeri Kani, has issued a stern warning against Israel's destabilizing activities in the West Asia region, vowing that the Islamic Republic will not permit Israel to manipulate regional stability and security for its own illegitimate objectives.

TEHRAN – Iran's acting foreign minister, Ali Baqeri Kani, has issued a stern warning against Israel's destabilizing activities in the West Asia region, vowing that the Islamic Republic will not permit Israel to manipulate regional stability and security for its own illegitimate objectives.

During a telephone conversation on Tuesday evening with Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad, Baqeri Kani condemned Israel's recent assassinations of Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the political bureau of the Hamas Resistance movement, in Tehran, and Fuad Shukr, a high-ranking Hezbollah military commander, in a southern Beirut airstrike.

"The Zionist regime has become a catalyst for instability and insecurity in West Asia through its criminal actions in Yemen, Tehran, and Beirut," Baqeri Kani declared. He also accused the United States and certain European nations of contributing to regional instability by supporting Israel's terrorist activities.

Highlighting Iran's commitment to taking decisive and legitimate action against Israel, Baqeri Kani emphasized, "The Islamic Republic of Iran will not allow the Zionist regime to treat regional stability and security as mere playthings for the illegitimate goals of the terrorist ruling gang in Tel Aviv."

Syrian Foreign Minister Mekdad echoed these sentiments, condemning Israel's terrorist acts and reiterating Syria's unwavering support for Iran. He criticized Israel's escalating aggression across West Asia and condemned the ongoing war crimes and genocide against Palestinians in the occupied territories, asserting that such actions must not go unpunished.

Mekdad also lambasted the West for its complicity in Israeli violations, accusing the United States and its European allies of supporting aggression against Iran, Lebanon, Yemen, and Syria.

‘Global silence against Israeli crimes emboldens criminals’

In a separate conversation with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Baqeri Kani criticized European countries for their passive response to Israel's recent acts of aggression, including the assassination of Haniyeh and the violation of Iran's national security and regional stability. 

He argued that European inaction only emboldens the Tel Aviv regime to continue its destabilizing activities.

"Europeans' obstruction of the diplomatic path will yield no result other than encouraging the Zionist regime to persist in its terrorist activities, creating further instability and insecurity in the region," Baqeri Kani stated. He emphasized that no nation, including Iran, would compromise on its national sovereignty, security, or territorial integrity.

Baqeri Kani also condemned the U.S. and European members of the UN Security Council for preventing the world body from addressing the root causes of instability in West Asia, holding them accountable for Israel's actions.

Lammy urged Iran to exercise maximum restraint in the aftermath of Haniyeh’s assassination, describing the killing as a significant setback in the Gaza ceasefire negotiations. He warned that the escalating tensions between Israel and Lebanon could lead to disastrous repercussions if self-restraint is not maintained.

Haniyeh was in Tehran to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Iran’s newly-elected President Masoud Pezeshkian and to meet with other leaders of the Axis of Resistance.

Iran has held Israel responsible for the killing of Haniyeh.

Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has vowed a "harsh response" and reiterated Iran's commitment to avenging Haniyeh's death, denouncing the act as a violation of Iran’s sovereignty and a threat to regional peace and stability.