Iran FM: Moderation with Hezbollah Key to Avoid Escalation

Iran’s foreign minister has reiterated the country’s intention to retaliate for the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran but also emphasized the need for restraint to prevent further military escalation in the region, particularly in Lebanon.

Abbas Araghchi mentioned this during a phone conversation with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on Sunday night. In a post on the platform X, Araghchi stated, “Iran’s response to the Israeli terrorist attack in Tehran is certain and will be measured and calculated. We do not seek escalation, but we are not afraid of it either, unlike Israel.”

Tajani, in his statement, urged restraint and encouraged a constructive approach to halt the ongoing cycle of military actions in the region, warning that continued conflict would only result in more suffering. He highlighted the importance of Iran showing restraint towards Hezbollah to avoid further escalation on the Lebanese-Israeli border, where Italian soldiers are part of the UNIFIL mission, and towards the Houthis to reduce tensions in the Red Sea area, where Italy plays a significant role in the European Union’s Aspides mission.

Their conversation occurred after a significant exchange of fire between Israel and Hezbollah on Sunday, which, despite fears, did not escalate into a full-scale war.

In a related development, high-level talks in Cairo aimed at establishing a ceasefire and securing a hostage deal to temporarily halt the ongoing 10-month conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza ended without a final agreement, according to a U.S. official. However, discussions will continue at a lower level in the coming days to address the remaining issues.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that “working teams” will stay in Cairo to engage with mediators from the United States, Qatar, and Egypt in an effort to resolve the remaining disagreements. The discussions involved key figures such as CIA Director William Burns and David Barnea, head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency. While a Hamas delegation was briefed by Egyptian and Qatari mediators, it did not directly participate in the negotiations.