DUBAI: Iran does not seek to increase Middle East tensions, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told his Italian counterpart Antonio Tajani, adding that its response to the killing of the Hamas chief in Tehran would be “definite and calculated”.

Iran blames Israel for the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on July 31, which Araqchi was quoted by Iran’s state media as saying was “an unforgivable violation of Iran’s security and sovereignty”.

Israel has neither claimed nor denied responsibility for Haniyeh’s death in the Iranian capital.

“Iran does not seek to increase tensions. However, it is not afraid of it,” Araqchi told his Italian counterpart on the phone, according to a statement about the phone call published on Monday by Iran’s foreign ministry.

Araqchi said that Iran’s response would be “definite, calculated and accurate”, according to the statement.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Araqchi and his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani discussed important regional issues.

The Qatari foreign minister, who is in Tehran, is also scheduled to meet Iran’s President Masoud Pezes­hkian. This is Qatari top diplomat’s the first official visit to Tehran since the formation of the 14th government in Iran.

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2024