Iran-Russia Interaction Can Restrain Israel: Baqeri

In a telephone conversation on Thursday, Baqeri and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov talked about the Zionist regime’s recent criminal act in assassinating Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and the violation of the territorial integrity and national security of Iran.

"By martyring Ismail Haniyeh, the Zionist regime has crossed a red line, endangering regional and international peace and stability. Therefore, the Islamic Republic of Iran will undoubtedly exercise its inherent and legitimate right to defend and protect its territorial integrity and national security,” the Iranian diplomat said, the Foreign Ministry’s website reported.

He also expressed gratitude to Russia, as the president of the United Nations Security Council, for supporting Iran's request to hold an extraordinary session of the council.

Baqeri condemned the actions of the United States and European countries in preventing the condemnation of assassination of Haniyeh, adding, "The cooperation between Moscow and Tehran can prevent the aggressive actions of the Zionist regime from jeopardizing regional peace and stability."

Lavrov, for his part, condemned the assassination of Haniyeh and the violation of the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iran by the Israeli regime.

"The United States and Europe have prevented the Security Council from condemning this aggressive act. However, Russia has prepared a draft statement within the framework of the Group of Friends of the United Nations Charter condemning this aggressive act, which will soon be finalized and issued at the United Nations," the Russian foreign minister stated.

Haniyeh was killed in a special residence in northern Tehran after being hit by an aerial projectile in the early hours of Wednesday, July 31.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei has warned the Zionist regime that it will receive a “harsh punishment” for the assassination of the Palestinian figure.