Iran Will Not Seek Permission from Anyone to Defend Its Sovereignty: Kanani

Iran will not seek permission from anyone to exercise its right to defend its sovereignty. This statement was made by Nasser Kanani, the official spokesperson of the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

On August 12, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France issued a joint statement calling on Iran and its allies to refrain from attacks that could further escalate regional tensions and jeopardize the possibility of reaching an agreement on a ceasefire and the release of hostages.

"The Islamic Republic is determined to ensure its sovereignty and national security, promote regional stability, and deter the real sources of terrorism and instability in the region, and will not seek permission from anyone to exercise its rights," Kanani said.

He added that the European trio, with its statement that does not contain even a drop of objection to the international crimes of the Zionist regime, shamelessly demands that Iran not take retaliatory actions against the regime that violates its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"If these countries truly seek peace and stability in the region, they should unconditionally oppose the provocations of the Israeli regime and the incitement of conflicts, immediately end the war against the Gaza Strip, and put an end to the horrific killings of Palestinian women, children, and defenseless inhabitants," stated the Iranian diplomat.

It should be noted that towards the end of July, Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of the Palestinian Hamas movement's political bureau, was assassinated in Tehran. He had traveled to the Iranian capital to participate in the inauguration of the country's new president. The movement held Israel and the United States responsible for Haniyeh's death and declared that this attack would not go unanswered. Israeli representatives stated that they would not comment on the assassination of Haniyeh. The U.S. Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Robert Wood, declared that the U.S. had no connection to the death of the Hamas political bureau leader.

On the evening of July 31, the American newspaper "New York Times," citing its sources, claimed that Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei had ordered a direct strike against Israel in response to Haniyeh's assassination. Later, Iran's Permanent Representative to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, stated during a meeting of the Security Council that Tehran reserves the right to respond to Haniyeh's assassination whenever it deems necessary, in accordance with international law.