Iran warns of risk of 'expansion of war' beyond Middle East

Tehran: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday warned that the wars in Gaza and Lebanon, where Israel is battling Tehran backed groups, c...

Tehran: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday warned that the wars in Gaza and Lebanon, where Israel is battling Tehran-backed groups, could spill over beyond the Middle East.

"The world should know that in case of the expansion of war, its harmful effects will not be limited only to the West Asia region; insecurity and instability can spread to other regions, even far away," Araghchi said in speech aired on state TV.

Israel has been waging a devastating war in the Gaza Strip against Hamas since October 2023.

Israel has more recently shifted its focus to Lebanon, where it has been engaged in full-fledged battle since September with Hezbollah.

On October 26, Israel conducted air strikes on military sites in Iran in response to Tehran's October 1 attack on Israel, itself retaliation for the killing of Iran-backed leaders and a Revolutionary Guards general.