Iran’s Pezeshkian says Tehran not seeking regional escalation

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Monday that Tehran does not seek to escalate tensions in the region, though he vowed to deploy the country’s full capabilities to defend its security and national interests. “The Islamic Republic of Iran does not seek to escalate tensions or instability in the region. However, it will act with its full capabilities to defend the country's security, national interests, and territorial integrity,” Pezeshkian said in statements carried by Press TV. His remarks come as tensions persist across the Middle East following months of military exchanges between Iran and the United States that have drawn in multiple regional actors.

Diplomatic outreach to Hamas

Pezeshkian spoke by telephone with Khalil al-Hayya, the newly elected chief of Hamas, to discuss developments in the Palestinian territories and the situation in the Gaza Strip and West Bank. A Hamas statement said Pezeshkian affirmed Iran’s continued support for the Palestinian people and their rights, while also congratulating Hayya on his election to succeed Yahya Sinwar, who was killed in a clash with Israeli forces in southern Gaza in October 2024.

Hayya, for his part, emphasized “the Palestinian people's commitment to their full rights and their use of legitimate means to achieve them,” the statement said, adding that he expressed hope for an end to attacks on Iran and the restoration of regional stability. The conversation marked continued coordination between Tehran and the Palestinian group as both navigate shifting geopolitical pressures.

Fragile ceasefire efforts

The telephone diplomacy follows a period of heightened confrontation that began in February when the US and Israel launched attacks against Iran, prompting retaliatory strikes targeting several regional states. Washington and Tehran agreed to a ceasefire in April and signed a Pakistan-mediated memorandum of understanding in June aimed at ending their military conflict and establishing a lasting peace framework, though the deal collapsed last month with both sides exchanging attacks for nearly two weeks.

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that he had canceled a planned military strike against Iran after Tehran and other regional countries requested additional time to finalize a peace deal framework, noting that Israel had joined the commitment. The call between Pezeshkian and Hayya came after the Board of Peace released a draft agreement on Friday outlining principles and implementation mechanisms for the next phase of Trump’s Gaza plan, including security arrangements and a proposed political track for the enclave.