Iran is not looking for war, says Iran's envoy to India

Iran's Ambassador to India Dr. Ali Chegeni on Wednesday said that Tehran is "not looking for war", a statement which comes amid heightened tension between the US and Iran following the latter's retaliation to the killing of its General Qassem Soleimani in a US air strike.

New Delhi:Amid heightened tensions between Iran and United States of America post retaliatory strike from Tehran on the US bases in Iraq in response to the killing of its General Qassem Soleimani, Iran's Ambassador to India Dr. Ali Chegeni said that his country is "not looking for war".

Talking to press post an event in New Delhi, Dr. Ali Chegeni said, "What has happened today, was part of our response. Retaliation was our right, based on the demand of the millions of people who participated in the funeral procession of our hero General Soleimani. But we don't want an escalation in the region. We are not looking for war."

"We Iranians have, over the past four centuries, never waged a war against anybody. We don't want any escalation in the region," added Chegeni.

When asked if Iran thinks that India can play an important role in de-escalation in the region, the Ambassador said, "India, being part of the region, should be part of de-escalation."

Dr. Chegeni negated any reversal on the much ambitious Chabahar Port between New Delhi and Tehran. He said that he wishes the present escalation between the U.S. and Iran doesn't affect it.

Only last month, External Affairs Minister Dr. Jaishankar during his visit to Washington DC attained narrow concessions from Trump administration for Chabahar Port.