Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian indicated on Sunday that Tehran’s response to Israel’s recent airstrikes could be influenced by a potential ceasefire agreement involving Israel and Iran’s regional allies.
In his statement, Pezeshkian emphasized that Iran’s reaction would consider Israel’s willingness to halt military actions in the region.
“If they [Israel] reconsider their behaviour, accept a ceasefire and stop massacring the oppressed and innocent people of the region, it could affect the intensity and type of our response,” Pezeshkian stated, as reported by state news agency IRNA.
His remarks signal a possible diplomatic approach from Iran but reiterate that any attack on Iranian sovereignty or security will not go unanswered.
The situation escalated following Israeli airstrikes on October 26, which Israeli officials described as retaliation for an earlier missile strike allegedly launched by Iran.
Tehran defended the missile strike as a response to the deaths of Iranian-backed leaders and a Revolutionary Guards commander earlier in the month.
On Saturday, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei addressed the tensions directly, declaring that “enemies, both the USA and the Zionist regime, should know that they will definitely receive a tooth-breaking response” for actions against Iran and its allies, often referred to as the “resistance front,” which includes groups like Hezbollah, Hamas, and Yemen’s Huthi rebels.
Following the Israeli airstrikes, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted that the attacks targeted Iran’s missile production and defense capabilities.
The strikes reportedly resulted in the deaths of four Iranian military personnel and inflicted damage on radar systems, with Iranian media reporting an additional civilian casualty.
The evolving situation has heightened concerns about a larger regional conflict, as both nations assert their intent to defend their interests.
For now, Iran’s stance appears to leave room for de-escalation, should Israel agree to a ceasefire that could potentially alter the course of their response.