Iran: 'We have no choice but to respond to Israel'

Acting Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri attended an extraordinary meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) at the level of foreign ministers, held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, following the assassination of Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh.

In his speech at the meeting, Bagheri stated that Israel is attacking Palestine and the Islamic world with the support it receives from Western countries and the US administration, and said that the United Nations (UN) has failed to prevent Israel's aggression.

Bagheri said, "Israel's assassination of our guest, Hamas leader Haniyeh, in Tehran has once again shown that the foundation and existence of the Zionist regime are built on terror, murder, aggression, violation of peace, creating insecurity and instability in the region, and genocide. This cowardly terrorist attack is a clear assault on the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran, a serious threat to regional and international peace and security, and a grave violation of the fundamental principles of international law and the United Nations Charter."

"WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO RESPOND TO THE ISRAELI REGIME'S ATTACKS"

Calling on the UN to take responsibility regarding Israel, Bagheri said, "Due to the United Nations' ineffectiveness against the Zionist regime, we have no choice but to respond to the Israeli regime's attacks." 

Accusing the US of supporting Israel and stating that the US role in the Haniyeh assassination cannot be ignored, Bagheri said, "We have warned many times that Israel poses a threat in the region. We have responded to all attacks by the Zionist regime targeting our country in a way that would not cause regional tension."

Giving the message that they will respond to Israel to prevent its attacks targeting Iran, Bagheri said they would provide the necessary response at an appropriate time and place.