Iran reserves right to react to Israel air strikes; welcomes Lebanon ceasefire

Tehran reserves the right to react to Israeli air strikes last month on Iran, but also bears in mind other developments in the region, Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, said on Wednesday, Reuters reports.

Araghchi told reporters during a trip to Lisbon that Iran welcomed Tuesday’s ceasefire agreement in Lebanon and hoped it could lead to a permanent ceasefire. The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah came into effect on Wednesday under an agreement brokered by the United States and France.

Asked whether the ceasefire could lead to an easing of tensions between Israel and Iran, he said: “It depends on the behaviour of Israel.”

“Of course, we reserve the right to react to the recent Israeli aggression, but we do consider all developments in the region,” he said.

Israel struck targets in Iran on 26 October in retaliation for an Iranian missile barrage against Israel on 1 October.

Ali Larijani, a senior adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, said in an interview published by Iran’s Tasnim news agency on Sunday that his country was preparing to “respond” to Israel.

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