This handout picture released by the Jordanian Royal Palace shows Jordan’s King Abdullah II (centre right) and his son Crown Prince Hussein (right) meeting with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (centre left) in Amman on October 16, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AFP

Iran’s top diplomat has warned U.N. chief Antonio Guterres that Tehran is ready for a “decisive and regretful” response if Israel attacks his country in retaliation for a missile attack.

The Islamic republic fired about 200 missiles at Israel on October 1 in revenge for the killing of two of its closest allies, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, as well as an Iranian general.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant vowed last week that his country’s retaliatory measure would be “deadly, precise and surprising”.

“Iran, while making all-out efforts to protect the peace and security of the region, is fully prepared for a decisive and regretful response to any adventures” by Israel, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said during a phone call with Mr. Guterres, according to a statement from his office on Wednesday (October 16, 2024).

During the call on Tuesday (October 15, 2024) evening, Mr. Araghchi also appealed to the United Nations to use its resources “to stop the crimes and aggressions of the Israeli regime and to send humanitarian aid to Lebanon and Gaza”.

Iran’s top diplomat also spoke on the phone with his French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot on Tuesday (October 15, 2024), his office said.

In the call, Mr. Araghchi stressed the need to stop Israeli attacks on Lebanon, warned against any “new adventures” by its arch-foe in the region, and called for the removal of Israeli “obstacles” impeding the delivery of aid to displaced people.

It followed a phone conversation on Sunday (October 13, 2024) between the two countries’ presidents, Emmanuel Macron and Masoud Pezeshkian.

Over the past week, Mr. Araghchi has visited Lebanon, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq and Oman in an effort to ease tensions.

Mr. Araghchi arrived in Jordan on Wednesday (October 16, 2024) before travelling to Egypt and Turkiye, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said in a post on social media platform X.

Upon his arrival in Amman, Mr. Araghchi met his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi and the two discussed regional developments amid Israel’s “atrocity and aggression against Gaza and Lebanon”, Mr. Baghaei said. The official Iranian news agency IRNA said Mr. Araghchi also met with Jordan’s King Abdullah II.

The developments come against the backdrop of a war between Israel and Iran-allied Palestinian militant group Hamas that has been raging for more than a year and has expanded to include Lebanon in recent weeks.

Tel Aviv:

Amid escalating tensions in West Asia (Middle East), the Indian Embassy in Israel has cautioned all Indians to stay vigilant and follow safety protocols advised by local authorities. The advisory was issued within hours of Iran threatening an attack on Israel in the aftermath of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah being killed in an Israeli missile attack.

Iran followed up on the threat by launching over a hundred rockets at Israel, Iran’s state media confirmed. Israel’s defence forces said that its nationals were already in bunkers, taking shelter from the attack.

The nearly year-long conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza strip has intensified with Tel Aviv going after Hezbollah – an Iran-backed militant organisation which supports Hamas. Iran had vowed to avenge the killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, killed last week, and had warned Israel of an imminent ballistic missile attack against it.

“In view of the prevailing situation in the region, all Indian nationals in Israel are advised to stay vigilant and adhere to safety protocols as advised by the local authorities,” The Indian Embassy in Tel Aviv said in its advisory.

“Please exercise caution, avoid unnecessary travel within the country and stay close to safety shelters,” it added.

The Embassy also shared round-the-clock helpline numbers where Indian nationals can call in case of emergency. “The Embassy is closely monitoring the situation and remains in regular touch with Israeli authorities to ensure the safety of all our nationals,” it said, adding, “In case of any emergency, please contact the 24×7 helpline of the Embassy – +972-547520711 and +972-543278392.”

*IMPORTANT ADVISORY FOR INDIAN NATIONALS IN ISRAEL*

Link : https://t.co/OEsz3oUtBJ pic.twitter.com/llt83IwIZ0

— India in Israel (@indemtel) October 1, 2024

The Embassy also shared an e-mail ID – cons1.telaviv@mea.gov.in – for Indian nationals to reach out, urging those “who are yet to register with the Embassy” to please do so immediately. It attached the form along with the message.
 

A woman carries a frame that shows a portrait for Hezbollah leader Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah, as she passes destroyed houses that were hit by Israeli airstrikes, in Aita al-Shaab, a Lebanese border village with Israel, south Lebanon, on June 29, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP

Iran on June 29 warned that “all Resistance Fronts”, a grouping of Iran and its regional allies, would confront Israel if it attacks Lebanon.

The comment from Iran’s mission to New York comes with fears of a wider regional war involving Israel and Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah movement. The two sides have engaged in near-daily exchanges of fire since the war in Gaza began.

Such exchanges have escalated this month, alongside bellicose rhetoric from both sides. Israel’s military said plans for a Lebanon offensive had been “approved and validated”, prompting Hezbollah to respond that none of Israel would be spared in a full-blown conflict.

In a post on social media platform X, the Iranian mission said it “deems as psychological warfare the Zionist regime’s propaganda about intending to attack Lebanon”.

But, it added, “should it embark on full-scale military aggression, an obliterating war will ensue. All options, incl. the full involvement of all Resistance Fronts, are on the table.”

The war in Gaza began in October when Hamas Palestinian militants attacked southern Israel.

Iran, which backs Hamas, has praised the attack as a success but has denied any involvement.

Alongside Hezbollah’s attacks on northern Israel, Iran-backed rebels in Yemen have repeatedly struck commercial ships in the Red Sea area in what they say are acts of solidarity with the Palestinians.

Iran also backs other groups in the region.

The Islamic republic has not recognised Israel since the 1979 revolution that toppled Iran’s United States-backed shah.

Fears of regional war also soared in April, after an air strike that levelled Iran’s consulate in Damascus and killed seven Revolutionary Guards, two of them generals.

Iran hit back with an unprecedented drone and missile attack on Israel on April 13-14.

Iran’s state media later reported explosions in the central province of Isfahan as U.S. media quoted American officials saying Israel had carried out retaliatory strikes on its arch-rival.

Tehran downplayed the reported Israeli raid.