Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has called on the United States and other Western countries to halt their support for Israel as tensions soar over the killing of a Hamas leader, AFP reports.

“If the United States and Western countries want to prevent war and insecurity in the region they should immediately stop selling arms and supporting the Zionist regime,” Pezeshkian said in a phone call with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron.

“The United States and the Western countries support a regime that does not adhere to any of the international laws and regulations,” Pezeshkian added, according to his website.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran considers avoiding war and trying to establish world peace and security as one of its basic principles,” Pezeshkian said.

“But within the framework of international treaties and laws, it will never remain silent in the face of violations of its interests and security.”

In his phone conversation, the Iranian president urged Western countries to “force this regime to stop the genocide and attacks on Gaza and accept a ceasefire”.