Iran's president issues stern warnings to Israel after meetings with Qatari, Arab officials in Doha

Ahram Online , Thursday 3 Oct 2024

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met with Qatar's Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan to address recent developments in the region, in a series of high-stakes meetings in Doha two days after Tehran launched a major missile attack against Israel.

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian (L) gives a joint press conference with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, in Doha. AFP

Om Tuesday, Iran launched 180 ballistic missiles at Israel, retaliating for the recent assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut.

Gulf Arab states have moved to reassure Iran of their neutrality in the ongoing conflict with Israel during meetings in Doha this week, driven by concerns that escalating violence could jeopardize their oil facilities, according to two sources who spoke to Reuters.

Iranian officials held consultations with ministers from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on de-escalation in the region at a meeting on the sidelines of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue Summit nations hosted by Qatar.

During the meetings, President Pezeshkian warned that Tehran would punish Israel in the case of further Israeli aggression, source told Reuters.

Warning Israel

Speaking in a press conference alongside Qatar's Emir Tamim on Wednesday, Pezeshkian told reporters Iran's readiness to respond and cautioned against remaining passive in the face of Israel's "warmongering."

"Any type of military attack or terrorist act or crossing our red lines will be met with a decisive response by our armed forces," he said.

Still, Pezeshkian expressed Iran's desire to prevent the ongoing conflict with Israel from escalating into a full-scale war.

“Iran aspires to peace and stability in the Middle East because no country can progress when there is war,” added Pezeshkian.

Pezeshkian also called upon the United States and European nations to advise Israel against actions that could destabilize the region.

On Thursday, speaking at the Asia dialogue summit, Emir Tamim described the current situation in the Middle East as a "collective genocide," condemning Israel's actions in Gaza and its aggression against Lebanon.

"It has become crystal clear that what is happening is genocide, in addition to turning the Gaza Strip into an area unfit for human habitation, in preparation for displacement," he declared.

The failure of the international community to end the Israeli war on Gaza gave Israel the greenlight to expand the conflict in the region to Lebanon, noted Emir Tamim.