Iran rejected a call Tuesday by three European countries urging it to refrain from that would further escalate regional tensions. Iran calls it an 鈥渆xcessive request.鈥�

The leaders of Britain, France and Germany in a joint statement Monday asked Iran and its allies to refrain from retaliation for the in Tehran last month. Iran has blamed Israel.

The European leaders also endorsed the latest push by mediators Qatar, Egypt and the United States to broker an agreement to end the . Talks are expected to resume Thursday. And they called for the return of scores of hostages held by Hamas and the 鈥渦nfettered鈥� delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Mediators have spent months trying to get the sides to agree to in which Hamas would release the remaining hostages captured in its Oct. 7 attack in exchange for , and Israel would withdraw from Gaza.

After more than 10 months of fighting, the Palestinian death toll is nearing 40,000 in Gaza, there.

Iran鈥檚 president told Britain鈥檚 prime minister that Tehran considers retaliation against Israel over the July killing of Hamas official Ismail Haniyeh a right, and a way to discourage future aggression.

A Tuesday report by the official IRNA news agency said President Masoud Pezeshkian, in a late Monday phone conversation with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, said that a punitive response to an aggressor is 鈥渁 right of nations and a solution for stopping crimes and aggression.鈥�

Pezeshkian said that the West鈥檚 silence about 鈥渦nprecedented inhumane crime鈥� in Gaza and Israeli attacks elsewhere in the Middle East was 鈥渋rresponsible鈥� and encouraged Israel to put regional and global security at risk.

The report said the two leaders discussed ways for restoring peace and stability in the region and the world as well as improving bilateral relations, without elaborating.

According to a statement from his office, Starmer said he was deeply concerned by the situation in the region and called on all parties to de-escalate. During the 30-minute call with Pezeshkian, Starmer asked Iran not to attack Israel, adding that war was not in anyone鈥檚 interests.

Israel has not confirmed nor denied its role in the , but Israel earlier pledged to kill him and other Hamas leaders over the group鈥檚 Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel that sparked the . The assassination has sparked fears of a wider regional conflict and of a direct confrontation between Israel and Iran if Tehran retaliates.

Iran does not recognize Israel and supports anti-Israeli militant groups including Hamas and Lebanon鈥檚 Hezbollah.

Iran rejects European leaders鈥� call to refrain from any retaliatory attacks

Netanyahu says far-right minister 鈥榙eviated鈥� in encouraging prayer at sensitive holy site

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says a far-right minister who encouraged prayer at a flashpoint Jerusalem holy site 鈥渄eviated鈥� from arrangements governing it.

The rare acknowledgement of a breach in the so-called status quo appeared to be an effort to reduce tensions as Israel braces for possible retaliation from Iran and Lebanon鈥檚 Hezbollah over the targeted killing of two top militants last month.

The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound is the third holiest site in Islam and the holiest for Jews, who refer to it as the Temple Mount. It is at the emotional heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and perceived encroachments have often sparked violence across the region. Under a longstanding arrangement known as the status quo, Jews can visit the site but not pray there.

Jordan, which serves as custodian of the site and has long condemned Israel鈥檚 actions there, is expected to play a major role in defending Israel against any Iranian attack.

On Tuesday, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir joined hundreds of Jews in visiting the site as they commemorated the destruction of the temples. In a video released by his office, Ben-Gvir strolls with supporters and one yells out a Jewish prayer. Ben-Gvir says he has made 鈥渧ery large progress鈥� in easing the rules against Jewish prayer there.

A statement by the prime minister鈥檚 office said 鈥渋t is the government and the prime minister who determine policy on the Temple Mount.鈥�