Iran tells neighbors strikes will stop if their territory not used for attacks – analyst

Iran’s message to neighboring countries following the recent escalation in regional tensions was essentially a warning not to allow their territories to be used for attacks against the Islamic Republic, according to Iran expert Vardan Voskanyan.

“Iran is apologizing for strikes on the territory of neighboring countries, but such strikes will stop if attacks against Iran are not launched from their territories,” Voskanyan said in a social media post on Saturday.

According to him, Tehran’s message can be interpreted as: “Do not allow the United States and Israel to use your territory, and Iran will not strike you.”

In a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier on Saturday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian rejected claims that Iran was planning to strike Azerbaijan.

“Iran has no plans to attack its neighbors. We only seek to defend our territorial integrity,” Pezeshkian was quoted as saying by Russian media.