Iran issues 'decisive' response warning for Israel, urges UN action
An Iranian missile system is displayed next to a banner with a picture of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Tehran, Iran, Oct. 2, 2024. (Reuters Photo)


Iran's top diplomat has warned U.N. chief Antonio Guterres that Tehran is prepared for a "decisive and regretful" response if Israel retaliates against it for a missile attack.

The Islamic republic fired about 200 missiles at Israel on Oct. 1 in revenge for the killing of two of its closest allies, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, as well as an Iranian general.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant vowed last week that his country's retaliatory measure would be "deadly, precise and surprising."

"Iran, while making all-out efforts to protect the peace and security of the region, is fully prepared for a decisive and regretful response to any adventures" by Israel, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said during a phone call with Guterres, according to a statement from his office Wednesday.

During the call on Tuesday evening, Araghchi also appealed to the United Nations to use its resources "to stop the crimes and aggressions of the Israeli regime and to send humanitarian aid to Lebanon and Gaza."

Over the past week, the Iranian foreign minister has visited Lebanon, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq and Oman in an effort to ease tensions.

Araghchi arrived in Jordan on Wednesday before traveling to Egypt and Türkiye, Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said in a post on social media platform X.

The developments come against the backdrop of Israel's genocidal war on Gaza which has been raging for more than a year and has expanded to include Lebanon in recent weeks.