Israeli Prime Minister fears Iran's retaliation, Tehran declares 'tough'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under pressure to reach a deal that would pave the way for the release of the remaining Israeli prisoners of war held in the Gaza Strip, the Washington Post reported, citing anonymous sources.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (Source: Times of Israel)

Mr Netanyahu is said to be worried about retaliatory attacks by Iran and the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah if indirect talks with the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas on a ceasefire do not bear fruit.

On July 31, Israel assassinated Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was in Tehran to attend the inauguration of Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian. A day earlier, the Jewish state also assassinated Fouad Shukr, a prominent Hezbollah commander, in a drone strike in southern Lebanon.

Meanwhile, according to Reuters news agency on August 23, in phone calls with his British and French counterparts, Iran's new Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi affirmed that his country has the right to retaliate against Israel for the assassination of Hamas leader Haniyeh.

Foreign Minister Araqchi called the assassination "an unforgivable violation of Iran's security and sovereignty", stressing: "It is Iran's right to punish the aggressor".

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/thu-tuong-israel-lo-ngai-iran-tra-dua-tehran-tuyen-bo-cung-283749.html