Iranian Foreign Ministry: Iran is not going to ask anyone for permission to retaliate against Israel

Iran is not going to ask anyone for permission to exercise its right to defend its sovereignty, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran Nasser Kanaani said, commenting on the calls from the U.K., Germany and France to the Islamic Republic to refrain from retaliating against Israel for the murder of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh. 

“The Islamic Republic of Iran is determined to protect its sovereignty and national security, promote regional stability and create a deterrent mechanism against the real source of terrorism and instability in the region and will not seek permission from anyone to exercise its inalienable rights,” Kanaani said.

“In a statement, which does not raise any objection to the international crimes committed by the Zionist regime (referring to Israel-ed. TASS), the European troika unabashedly demands that the Islamic Republic of Iran not take retaliatory measures against the regime that violates its sovereignty and territorial integrity. If these countries are truly seeking peace and stability in the region, they must stand without any reservations against the provocations and incitement of conflicts by the Israeli regime, as well as immediately end the war against the Gaza Strip and put an end to the horrific killings of Palestinian women, children and defenseless residents,” Kanaani noted.