By Haydar Sahin
TEHRAN, Iran (AA) – Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said Monday that the US sent his country two messages saying it is not interested in expanding the scope of the Israel-Hamas war.
Addressing reporters after a second meeting of the "3+3" Regional Platform with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia and Türkiye in the capital Tehran, Amir-Abdollahian said the US and Western countries had sent numerous messages to the Lebanese group Hezbollah to prevent the opening of a new front against Israel.
"The US has also sent two messages to Iran. In the first one, they said 'we do not want to expand the war.' In the second one, they asked Iran to show restraint. The US claims not to want to expand or escalate the war, but on the other hand, they proved their support for the attacks on Palestinian civilians, children and women in Gaza with the weapons they sent two weeks ago,” he said.
He said Iran has openly declared its support for the Palestinian resistance against the Israeli occupation, adding Tehran will continue its political support for Palestine against Israel.
The conflict in Gaza, which has been under Israeli bombardment and a blockade since Oct. 7, began when the Palestinian group Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, a multi-pronged surprise attack that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea and air.
It said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians.
The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.
The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip has climbed to 5,087, the Health Ministry in the blockaded enclave said on Monday.
“The fatalities include 2,055 children, 1,119 women and 217 elders,” ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra told a news conference in Gaza City.
He said 15,273 people were also injured in the Israeli attacks.
More than 1,400 Israelis have been killed in Hamas attacks since Oct. 7, according to Israeli authorities.
*Writing by Seda Sevencan