Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian criticized the international community for their silence on "Israel's" ongoing war crimes in the Middle East while condemning the West's support of the occupation regime, describing it as a threat to regional and international security.

Pezeshkian said these comments during a phone call with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday evening while engaging in discussion to establish peace and stability on both the regional and global scale, and exchanging ways to improve the two nations' bilateral relations.

“The silence of international bodies towards the unprecedented and inhumane crimes of the Zionist regime in Gaza and the terrorist acts of the regime in the region, in addition to certain European countries’ support for the entity are irresponsible and in violation of international regulations,” Pezeshkian said, emphasizing these practices threaten regional security by enabling the occupation to continue committing international violations. 

Starmer urges Iran not to retaliate against 'Israel'

Pezeshkian asserted that despite the Islamic Republic of Iran's belief that war is not in anyone's interest, the punitive response to Israeli aggression is a proper and legitimate mechanism to combat the regime's atrocious crimes.

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For his part, the UK prime minister stressed his deep concern for the region's rising tensions, calling for all parties to "de-escalate and avoid further regional confrontation" by requesting Iran not retaliate against the occupation's assassination of Hamas' Political Bureau leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.

"There was a serious risk of miscalculation and now was the time for calm and careful consideration," Starmer said, according to a statement released by 10 Downing Street. The top diplomat also reiterated his commitment to implement an immediate ceasefire, releasing all prisoners and hostages, and increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Starmer added that the focus should be on diplomatic negotiations.

“The criminal and terrorist Zionist regime martyred our dear guest in our homeland and left us bereaved, but it also set the ground for a harsh punishment for itself,” Pezeshkian responded.

Iran and the UK's bilateral relations were also a topic discussed during the phone call, with the Iranian president expressing his willingness to strengthen diplomatic ties between London and Tehran. 

Pezeshkian welcomed the resumption of talks concerning the revival of a 2015 nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), urging all parties to abide by the necessary obligations for the negotiations to warrant favorable results.

Pezeshkian: US, West double standards enable 'Israel' to commit crimes

Iran's President Pezeshkian also held a phone call with the president of the European Council, Charles Michel, on Sunday, during which he criticized the double standards employed by the United States and some Western states, which have "emboldened the Zionist regime to become even more aggressive" and threaten world peace and security.

The Iranian president saw that these policies have aided Israeli assassinations and heinous crimes in the Gaza Strip, as well as in regional countries, saying that "Israel's" actions "pose a threat to the peace and security of the region and the world."