Iran sent a message to Israel through the United Nations that Iran would have to intervene if Israel launched a ground offensive in the Gaza Strip amid the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, media reported, citing two diplomatic sources.
Iran's position was voiced by Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian to UN envoy to the Middle East Tor Wennesland, who conveyed the message to Israeli national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi, the report read.
During the meeting of Wennesland and Amirabdollahian on October 14, the envoy reportedly called on Iran to help prevent the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from becoming a wider regional conflict of the Middle East.
According to the media, the foreign minister, in his turn, noted that Iran does not want a spillover of the conflict and wants to attempt to free the civilians, that are held hostage by Hamas in Gaza.
The minister added in a briefing with reporters that Israel should "stop the crimes against civilians in Gaza — because it might be too late in a few hours," the report noted.
On October 7, Palestinian group Hamas launched a surprise large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip, prompting Israel to declare a state of war the following day and launch retaliatory strikes. On October 9, Israel ordered a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip, home to more than 2 million people, cutting off supplies of water, food and fuel.
On October 14, the Israeli military announced its plans to launch the ground operation in the Gaza Strip, however, on October 15 postponed it for several days due to weather conditions. Both Israel and Palestine have reported over 1,000 deaths and thousands of injured as a result of the escalation.