TEHRAN- The spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry has said that if enemies make any reckless move against the Islamic Republic, Tehran will not hesitate to respond with the strongest force.

Nasser Kanaani made the statements during a news conference in Tehran on Monday in reaction to U.S. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham’s recent anti-Iran rants on X.

Graham accused Tehran of planning the large-scale surprise attack on Israel by Hamas and other Gaza-based resistance fighters, adding that “Iran should pay dearly for any escalation directed at Israel.”

“An attack by Hezbollah, and other Iranian proxies, would be devastating to Israeli defense systems. If such an attack occurs, Israel and the United States should go after the Iranian oil refineries and oil infrastructure - which is the lifeblood of the Iranian economy,” he added.

Kanaani responded to such allegations by saying that such claims follow Israel’s humiliating loss and are intended to excuse Washington’s and its Western allies’ backing for the Tel Aviv regime’s escapades.

He emphasized that hostile claims against Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement will not absolve the United Kingdom and the United States of responsibility for Israel’s 75 years of crimes against Palestinians and other nations in the West Asia region.

He warned of attempts by Israel’s sponsors, most notably the United States, to shift the roles of oppressor and victim through media warfare.

The Iranian diplomat further emphasized the Islamic Republic’s position on the Palestinian struggle, stating that the al-Aqsa Mosque and the Israeli-occupied holy city of al-Quds are vital to all Muslims worldwide.

“Iran has always had a clear and firm position on the Palestinian nation, and the president and the foreign minister have clearly and transparently declared their stances at the highest level and shared their views with foreign officials,” Kanaani said.

He went on to add, “A growing number of world countries, including Muslim states, are throwing their support behind the Palestinian nation and resistance front. The international community is also massively supporting the honorable resistance of the Palestinian nation.”

Security pact between Iran and Iraq

Concerning the implementation of the Iran-Iraq security pact, Kanaani stated that the two nations examined the latest status of the deal during the recent visit of an Iraqi security official to Tehran.

Officials in the Iraqi Kurdistan region have worked well together to carry out the deal, including establishing Iraqi guards at shared border crossings to demolish separatist facilities, As Kanaani stated. 

The official expressed optimism that the Iran-Iraq security accord will be completely implemented.

According to the March agreement between Iran and Iraq, the Iraqi side is obliged to disarm and relocate the separatist militant groups from the western borders that commit acts of terror once in a while in border areas.