The Iranian president says: “We do not want to fight,” but Israel “wants everyone to go to war and destabilize the region” – and is ready to lay down our weapons if they do the same.

In a recent development Masoud Pezeshkianthe Iranian president, has pointed the finger at Israel for escalating the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

What happened: Addressing the media on Monday, Pezeshkian claimed that Israel was setting “traps” to draw Iran into a larger conflict, expressing that Iran was not willing to allow an escalation of the current Gaza war and airstrikes on the Israeli-Lebanese border, AP News reported.

“We don't want to fight,” Pezeshkian said. “It is Israel that wants to drag everyone into war and destabilize the region. … They are pushing us to a point we don't want to reach.”

The Iranian president, who took office after a runoff election in July, made the comments in his first appearance before the UN General Assembly. His remarks come as Israel intensifies its attacks on Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.

Pezeshkian criticized Israel's actions, pointing to the recent deadly explosions in Lebanon and the assassination of the Hamas political leader in Tehran, both of which he attributed to Israel.

Although Israel claims it does not want a major war, Pezeshkian argues that the country's actions suggest the opposite. He reiterated Iran's commitment to peace, stating: “We are ready to lay down all our weapons as long as Israel is ready to do so.”

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Why it is important: The recent escalation of violence between Israel and Hezbollah is of international concern. Israeli air strikes on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon claimed around 274 lives on Monday. The conflict has escalated since the war between Israel and Hamas began last October.

Despite the escalating conflict, oil prices fell more than 1% on Monday amid concerns about weaker global demand. The conflict had no significant impact on energy supplies as investors focused more on the macroeconomic picture of slowing global consumption.

The US has also warned Israel against escalating hostilities with Hezbollah and pointed to the potential risks of a full-scale land war. The US has called on Israel to seek diplomatic solutions to ensure the safety of Israeli citizens.

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This story was created with Benzinga Neuro and edited by Shivdeep Dhaliwal