Tehran: Iran's foreign minister, Araghchi, has clarified that the Islamic Republic is not seeking to escalate tensions, contrary to actions by the Israeli regime. He emphasized that Iran reserves the right to defend itself in accordance with the UN Charter. According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Araghchi spoke at a joint press conference with Pakistani counterpart Mohammad Ishaq Dar, asserting Iran's commitment to peace but also its readiness to respond to Israeli aggression at an appropriate time. He highlighted the brutal actions of the Zionists in Gaza and Lebanon, which have intensified with recent attacks. Araghchi expressed gratitude towards Pakistani officials for their stance against Israeli aggression. In response, Ishaq Dar condemned the Zionist regime's criminal acts against Iran and reiterated the strong positions of both Tehran and Islamabad against Israel's illegal activities in occupied territories. Ishaq Dar criticized ongoing Israeli crimes in Gaza and their devastating impact on the M iddle East, accusing Israel of violating international laws and the UN Charter. He pointed to the deprivation of Palestinian rights as a root cause of the tragedies in Gaza. Dar also acknowledged Tehran's support for Pakistan's BRICS membership and emphasized the importance of strengthening relations between Iran and Pakistan in regional and international forums. He mentioned the upcoming Organization of Islamic Cooperation foreign ministers' meeting in Jeddah on November 11, where Iran and Pakistan will continue their efforts to support Palestinians and achieve a ceasefire. Both Araghchi and Dar affirmed their countries' determination to collaborate against terrorism threats and expand bilateral cooperation.