Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Iran is after disposal of tensions in the West Asia region, while the Israeli regime has been contributing to intensification of regional tensions.
The top diplomat made the remarks in a telephone conversation with his Dutch counterpart Caspar Veldkamp on Wednesday.
“The Islamic Republic is after de-escalation of tensions in the West Asia region,” Araghchi said, adding, “This is while the Zionist regime’s killing and violence machine has contributed to escalation of tension and violence in the region.”
The official was referring to the regime’s October-present war against the Gaza Strip, Tel Aviv’s intensified deadly attacks on Lebanon and the occupied West Bank, and its assassination of senior resistance figures across the region.
He laid emphasis on the need for immediate cessation of the war that has so far claimed the lives of 40,534 Palestinians, mostly women and children.
For his part, the Dutch official expressed concern regarding the spiraling crises throughout the region, urging all concerned parties to exercise restraint.
“The Netherlands hopes that the cycle of violence and tension is stopped across the region, and the ground is prepared for cessation of the Palestinian people’s suffering and transfer of humanitarian aid to them,” he said.
The officials, meanwhile, addressed various issues of common interest. They underlined the need for continuation of political consultations, with Araghchi saying it was possible for the countries to expand their relations on the basis on mutual respect.
In a separate telephone conversation with his Japanese counterpart Yoko Kamikawa, Araghchi likewise described the Israeli regime’s “provocative measures” as the “main reason behind intensification of regional tensions.”
He cited the regime’s assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas’ Political Bureau chief, in the Iranian capital Tehran late last month, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “approach of [trying to] expand the war [on Gaza]” as cases in point.
“As we have stated repeatedly, we are not afraid of [potential] increase in regional tensions, but, unlike the Zionist regime, the Islamic Republic is not after expansion of tension and conflict in the region,” he said.
Kamikawa, for her part, voiced concern regarding the dangerous regional situation that has followed Haniyeh’s assassination, underscoring the need for restoration of calm.
She, meanwhile, said Tokyo was inclined to expand its mutual relations with Tehran and continue regional cooperation with the Islamic Republic.
Araghchi also stressed the need for continuation of negotiations and consultations between the countries towards further promotion of both their relations and regional cooperation.
He noted that the country’s foreign policy under its current administration featured endeavor towards development of relations with the entire world, especially the East Asian nations.
The Dutch and Japanese officials also congratulated Araghchi for his recent appointment as Iran’s top diplomat, for which he expressed his gratitude.
