Iran ‘doesn’t want’ Middle East war but Israel ‘must be punished’ as families of UK embassy staff withdrawn from Lebanon

Iran has said it is not seeking to escalate the conflict in the Middle East but its arch-enemy Israel must be “punished”, the country’s foreign ministry said. Amid widespread fears of the conflict between Israel and Iran-backed militant groups, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza, spreading, Iran claimed on Monday it was not seeking a regional escalation. Iran has said it is not seeking to escalate the conflict in the Middle East but its arch-enemy Israel must be “punished”, the country’s foreign ministry said. Amid widespread fears of the conflict between Israel and Iran-backed militant groups, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza, spreading, Iran claimed on Monday it was not seeking a regional escalation.