Ex-Iranian foreign minister warns Israel, says avoiding future aggression ‘best for them’

DOHA

Former Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Sunday Israel’s latest war with Iran was the result of “miscalculations,” warning that any future aggression would provoke Iranian self-defense and that de-escalation would ultimately be “best for them.”

On the sidelines of the Doha Forum 2025, Zarif told Anadolu that Israel underestimated Iran’s resilience when the conflict resumed.

“I think Israelis entered this aggression against us based on miscalculations and at the end of the day, they found out that the resistance of the people of Iran will prevent them from achieving their objectives, and that is what ended the war,” he said.

Zarif said Iran has no interest in pursuing hostilities but is capable of responding if attacked.

“Israel knows that Iran is capable of inflicting harm, but Iran is not interested in doing that other than in self-defense, so if they stop and forget about future aggressions, it's best for them,” he said.

A 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel broke out in June 2025, triggered by Israeli airstrikes on Iranian military and nuclear facilities that killed several senior nuclear scientists and military officials.