Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has called on European nations, especially Germany, to play a decisive role in stopping the Israeli genocide in Gaza, rather than supporting the regime.

“The people of the world expect European countries, especially Germany, to play an effective role in ending the Zionist genocide in Gaza instead of supporting this regime”, Pezeshkian told German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in a phone conversation on Monday.

The president further emphasized that people around the world share these expectations, especially as "Israel" continues its war on Gaza and engages in terrorist activities in other countries, violating international law and threatening security in the West Asia region as well as global peace.

Meanwhile, Iran's core policies aim to maintain global and regional security, stability, and peace, Pezeshkian added.

He added that his country welcomes expanding relations with all countries, including Germany and European states, based on mutual respect and trust, stressing the importance of resolving issues via talks

However, Pezeshkian affirmed the Islamic Republic of Iran reserves the right to respond to aggressors following international law and will not succumb to pressure, sanctions, bullying, or aggression, the president said.

For his part, Scholz congratulated the Iranian president on his recent election, expressing Germany's desire to develop ties with Iran across all fields.

The chancellor added that peace and security in the region are a priority for Germany, agreeing that the Israeli war on Gaza must "immediately" end and a ceasefire must be reached.

An Israeli expert on "national security" affairs said on Monday that Israelis are living through a "nerve-wracking" period in anticipation of the Iranian retaliation to the assassination of Hamas' political bureau chief in Tehran.

Colonel Kobi Marom explained that this is part of Iran's strategy of attrition against "Israel".