Turkish FM claims ‘Israel’s aggressive stance’ is trying to ‘draw Iran into this war’

Israel’s military operations in Lebanon and Gaza are pushing Iran to take “legitimate steps,” Turkey’s foreign minister says during a joint press conference in Istanbul with his Iranian counterpart.

Turkey’s Hakan Fidan says alongside Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is “constantly opening new fronts in the region” and “trying to draw Iran into this war.”

“The risk of war spreading to the entire region should not be underestimated,” the Turkish official adds.

Iran’s Araghchi, who took part in Friday’s meeting of South Caucasus nations in Istanbul, says the rising tension in Lebanon is “very worrying.”

“The possibility of war in the region is always serious, and no one other than the Zionist regime wants that to happen. We want to reduce tensions, but.. we are ready for any scenario,” he says.

Iran backs the terror groups Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, whose top leaders have been targeted by Israel in the widening Middle East crisis.

Iran also backs Houthi rebels in Yemen and Shiite militias in Iraq, as well as Syria’s armed forces. Tehran collectively calls these proxies and terror groups an “axis of resistance” against Israel.