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Iran warns of 'decisive' response if Israel strikes, urges UN action

TEHRAN, Oct 16, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Iran's top diplomat has warned UN 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 Guterres, according to a statement from his office on
Wednesday.

During the call on Tuesday evening, 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".

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

Araghchi arrived in Jordan on Wednesday before travelling to Egypt and
Turkey, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said in a post on
social media platform X.

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.

BSS/AFP/SSS/1516 hrs