Iran president warns of 'irreversible' consequences of wider regional war

New York (Reuters): Israel wants to drag the Middle East into a full-blown war by provoking Iran to join the nearly year-old conflict between Israel and Tehran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, Iran's President said.

Masoud Pezeshkian, speaking to journalists after his arrival in New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly, said: "We do not wish to be the cause of instability in the Middle East as its consequences would be irreversible".

"We want to live in peace, we don't want war," he added. "It is Israel that seeks to create this all-out conflict."

He added: "We will defend any group that is defending its rights and itself" after being asked whether Iran will enter the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. He did not elaborate.