Iran's new president asserts right to retaliation in rare phone call with major US ally

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Newly elected Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stressed his country’s right to retaliation against Israel in a rare phone call with the United Kingdom.

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer made clear to Pezeshkian during the 30-minute call that "war is not in anyone’s interest" and urged Tehran to "refrain from attacking Israel." The call followed a joint statement from the heads of the United States, the United Kingdom and three other European countries.

The Iranian president, however, insisted that a strong response to an attack "is a right of nations and a solution for stopping crimes and aggression," Sky News reported.

"The support of some Western countries for the Zionist regime is irresponsible and contrary to international standards since it endangers regional security by encouraging the Zionist regime to continue its crimes," Pezeshkian reportedly told Starmer.

BLINKEN POSTPONES MIDDLE EAST VISIT OVER SECURITY CONCERNS, ANTICIPATED IRANIAN RETALIATION

Tensions remain high after Israel’s alleged assassination of Hamas commander Ismail Haniyeh, who was in Tehran at the time of his death. Iran denounced Haniyeh’s murder and blamed Israel, even though Haniyeh died in what was later deemed a localized explosion that killed no Iranian citizens.

International pressure from European and Arab nations alike did not seem to dent Iran’s desire to avenge the