Israeli envoy to UN says strikes on Iran may last days or weeks
Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations said on Friday that the country's military operation against Iran could extend over several days or weeks.
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Iran's Foreign Ministry has summoned the Swiss ambassador to Tehran -whose country represents Washington's interests in Iran - to warn the US military against providing any support to Israel, including assistance in countering Iran's retaliatory attack.
"Iran warned against any US military support for the Zionist regime, including efforts to obstruct Iran's legitimate right to self-defense, and emphasized that such acts of aggression by the Zionist regime against Iran could not have taken place without US cooperation, coordination, or at the very least, a green light," the Foreign Ministry said.
The Swiss envoy was also told that "the United States must be held accountable for its unlawful conduct in this matter."
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani held a phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday, urging Tehran to avoid further military escalation with Israel and warning it would be extremely dangerous for the region.
“We must return to negotiations and diplomacy as soon as possible,” Tajani told Araghchi, adding that he had conveyed the same message earlier to Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar.
Two senior Iranian lawmakers publicly called on Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to authorize the development of nuclear weapons, following Israel's strikes on Iran.
In remarks aired on Iranian media, MP Hossein-Ali Shahriari, a prominent conservative legislator, said: “As members of parliament, we humbly ask the Supreme Leader to give the order allowing Iran to possess nuclear bombs.”
Ahmad Naderi, a member of the parliament’s presiding board, echoed the call, saying: “We ask the Supreme Leader to allow us to move toward filling the deterrence gap with nuclear weapons.”
The US military is shifting its resources, including ships, in the Middle East in response to Israel’s strikes on Iran and a possible retaliatory attack by Tehran, the Associated Press reported citing two US officials.
The Navy has ordered the USS Thomas Hudner destroyer to head toward the Eastern Mediterranean and instructed another destroyer to start advancing, so it can be ready if the White House calls on it.
Wall Street’s main indexes opened lower on Friday as Israel’s deadly strike on Iranian nuclear facilities heightened tensions in the oil-rich Middle East, dampening risk appetite across global markets.
