Iran Asserts Commitment to Security, Rejects War Despite Tensions in the Middle East

"War is not in the interest of Iran, the region or the world. No sane person would want to start a war and add fuel to the fire of the conflict," Pezeshkian said.

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Iran is not seeking a major armed conflict in the Middle East, but will always act to protect its security, President Masoud Pezeshkian emphasized during a meeting with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi.

"War is not in the interest of Iran, the region or the world. No sane person would want to start a war and add fuel to the fire [of the conflict]. However, under any circumstances, we will firmly and decisively respond to any action against our security," Pezeshkian said, according to a statement from his office, The Caspian Post reports, citing TASS.

The president also reiterated accusations against Israel of destabilizing the Middle East.

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Commander-in-Chief Lieutenant General Hossein Salami earlier threatened Israel with an imminent retaliation for the attack on the country in October. Iranian Army Commander-in-Chief Lieutenant General Abdolrahim Mousavi said that Tehran's response will be devastating.

On October 26, the Israel Defense Forces said it struck military sites inside Iran in response to "numerous continuous attacks." Iran’s air defense forces said in a statement that military facilities in the Ilam, Tehran and Khuzestan provinces came under attack, but suffered limited damage. At least four Iranian soldiers and one civilian were killed in the Israeli strikes.

On October 1, Iran launched a massive missile strike on Israel in response to the assassinations of key figures in the leadership of Hamas, Hezbollah and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Israel vowed to respond.