Iran’s foreign minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian, warned that a “pre-emptive action” against Israel could be expected “in the coming hours”, signalling a potential escalation in the conflict.
In a live broadcast to state television, Amirabdollahian said “the leaders of resistance groups will not allow the Zionist regime to act in any way it likes in Gaza” while referencing his meeting with the head of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, on Saturday.
He added:
The possibility of pre-emptive action by the resistance front is expected in the coming hours.
“All options are open and we cannot be indifferent to the war crimes committed against the people of Gaza,” he said. He added:
If we don’t defend Gaza today, tomorrow we have to defend against these [phosphorus] bombs in the children’s hospital of our own country.
Human Rights Watch has accused Israel of using white phosphorus munitions in its military operations in Gaza and Lebanon last week. Israel has denied it used white phosphorus.
Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi said earlier on Monday that time was running out to reach a political solution and warned against the expansion of the Israel-Hamas war to other fronts.
