AhlulBayt News Agency: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Tehran is fully ready for a "war situation" while working for establishing peace in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.
Araghchi made the remarks during a joint presser with his Iraqi counterpart, Fuad Hussein in Baghdad on Sunday. He arrived in the Iraqi capital as part of a regional tour that has also taken him to Lebanon, Syria and Saudi Arabia so far.
"We are fully prepared for a war situation. We are not afraid of war but we do not want war and we will make efforts for a just peace in Gaza and Lebanon,” Araghchi said.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran does not seek an escalation of tension, conflict and war, although it is ready for any situation. We are ready for war as we are ready for peace and this is the firm position of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he added.
Iran and Iraq have consensus on the necessity to put an immediate end to the Israeli regime’s crimes and aggression and achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon, he said.
The top Iranian diplomat noted that he has held close consultations with officials of the regional countries, particularly with Iraqi authorities, given “very dangerous challenges” and an “alarming situation” in the region.
The Iranian foreign minister emphasized that his current visit to Iraq is aimed at discussing the “dangerous and sensitive issues in our region and in the Persian Gulf”, saying “very good consultations” were held in this regard.
Pointing to the very high possibility of broader conflict in the region, Araghchi reiterated that Israel’s crimes are the root cause of the ongoing situation “which started in Gaza and has now spread to Lebanon and is likely to be spread to other regional countries.”
The top Iranian diplomat warned that the region is facing a very dangerous situation and there is a possibility of a widespread war.
He once again underlined the importance of countering the Israeli regime’s aggression and halting its war and attacks on people in Gaza and Lebanon.
The minister expressed regret that the international community did not pay enough attention to the very important issue of displaced people, saying Israel has blocked all ways to assist them with its attacks.
He reaffirmed Iran’s determination to help the Lebanese people and the Palestinian refugees in Syria through every possible means.
Iraq opposes use of its airspace for attack on Iran: Hussein
The Iraqi foreign minister, for his part, said his country opposes a regional war spreading to Iran amid the Israeli regime's rhetoric about a possible response to the Islamic republic's recent missile attack.
"The continuation of the war and its expansion towards the Islamic Republic of Iran and (Israel's) exploitation of Iraqi airspace as a corridor is completely unacceptable and rejected," Hussein added.
He noted that the Iraqi government and Foreign Ministry has warned that Israel’s aggression against Lebanon would drag the region into a war and conflict.
The Iraqi minister emphasized that any war in the region would have consequences for regional security and peace.
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