President Pezeshkian: Iran open to reducing tensions with Israel

Iran is willing to de-escalate its ongoing tensions with Israel if there is equal commitment from the other side, said Iran's new president Masoud Pezeshkian.

"We’re willing to put all our weapons aside so long as Israel is willing to do the same," Pezeshkian stated on September 23 ahead of the UN General Assembly in New York, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

"We’re not seeking to destabilise the region," he added.

This marks Pezeshkian’s first appearance at the UN’s annual summit, where he is set to speak on September 24.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is also expected to address the assembly later in the week, although his travel plans remain unconfirmed.

The Iranian president’s remarks come amidst rising tensions, following Tehran’s accusations that Israel was behind a deadly explosion in Lebanon. The blast, which killed several people, including Iran’s ambassador to Beirut, was allegedly aimed at Hezbollah, a group supported by Iran. While Israel has not taken responsibility for the attack, both countries have exchanged threats of retaliation.

Pezeshkian emphasised Iran's desire for peace but insisted the country would defend its allies. "They don’t take orders from anyone," he said, referring to groups like Hezbollah and the Houthis in Yemen, both backed by Iran.

"If a war erupts in the region, it would serve no one’s interest. We don’t want to fight. It’s Israel that wants to drag everyone into war and destabilise the region," Pezeshkian stressed.

He also reiterated that Iran had no prior knowledge of Hamas’s October 7th attacks on Israel, which triggered the current conflict in Gaza.