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  World   Middle East  11 May 2018  Rouhani says Iran doesn’t want ‘new tensions’ in Middle East

Rouhani says Iran doesn’t want ‘new tensions’ in Middle East

AFP
Published : May 11, 2018, 8:55 am IST
Updated : May 11, 2018, 8:55 am IST

'Iran has always sought to reduce tensions in the region, trying to strengthen security and stability,' Rouhani said.

Rouhani did not mention Israel's strikes early on Thursday in Syria, or those against the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, also on Thursday. (Photo: AP)
 Rouhani did not mention Israel's strikes early on Thursday in Syria, or those against the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, also on Thursday. (Photo: AP)

Tehran: Iran does not want "new tensions" in the Middle East, President Hassan Rouhani told German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday, after Israel carried out strikes against what it called Iranian targets in Syria.

"Iran has always sought to reduce tensions in the region, trying to strengthen security and stability," Rouhani told Merkel in a telephone call, according to a statement on the website of Iran's presidency.

Rouhani did not mention Israel's strikes early on Thursday in Syria, or those against the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, also on Thursday.

Israel has said its strikes in Syria were in response to the attacks against the Golan Heights, which it blamed on Iran.

But the chairman of Iran's parliamentary committee on foreign affairs condemned Israel for carrying out the strikes in Syria.

"Israel has entered a dangerous game," Allaeddine Boroujerdi said during a visit to the Portuguese capital Lisbon.

"The main purpose of these attacks, supported by the United States, is to divert public opinion from the behaviour of the American president (and) his decision to leave the agreement," added Boroujerdi, referring to President Donald Trump's decision this week to withdraw the United States from the 2015 Iran nuclear accord.

Tags: hassan rouhani, angela merkel, syria attack, donald trump, iran nuclear deal
Location: Iran, Teheran, Teheran