Story by Oleen Ndori, Foreign Desk Editor
THE Islamic Republic of Iran says it will not hesitate to exercise its inherent right to self-defence after Israel attacked its embassy in Syria.
As world leaders and the United Nations call for maximum restraint in the Middle East after Iran attacked Israel Saturday night in response to an assault on the Iranian consulate in Syria on the 1st of this month, Iran says its response is in line with international law.
Ambassador of Iran to Zimbabwe Upsound H.E Abbas Navazani said, “The Israeli regime’s airstrike against Iranian diplomatic premises; the consulate of Iran in Syria which led to the martyrdom of 7 Iranian senior military advisors on the 1st of April 2024; so in response to this cruel action and military aggression Iranian armed forces in the late hours of 13 April 2024 carried out a series of military strikes on Israeli regime military objectives.
“This action was in the exercise of Iran’s inherent self-defence as outlined in Article 51 of the charter of the United Nations and in response to the Israeli recurring military aggressions particularly its armed attack against Iranian diplomatic premises in defiance of Article 2 (4) of the charter of the United Nations. Iran is fully committed to regional and international peace and security and the same time has an iron fist against the Israeli regime’s aggression or any foreign forces.
The United Nations Security Council has since called for the two sides to exercise restraint to avoid further escalation of tensions.
“All member states are reminded that the UN Charter prohibits the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state and that the principle of inviolability of diplomatic and consular premises and personnel must be respected in all cases in accordance with international law.
“The international community has a shared responsibility to actively engage all parties concerned to prevent further escalation, to secure an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid. There is a collective responsibility to strive for peace and stressed that the ongoing erosion of regional and global peace and security is happening at an alarming rate,” said the UN Secretary-General, H.E Antonio Guterres.
On Saturday night, Iran launched a barrage of drones and missiles on Israel in retaliation for a suspected Israeli strike in Damascus that killed several Iranian commanders.
Legal and political experts have warned of a severe impact on global trade as the latest events have heightened regional tensions, amid the ongoing Israeli-Hamas war.
