Tehran: Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi, has asserted that the Islamic Republic is committed to preventing the escalation of war in the region. He emphasized that recent Iranian missile strikes on Israel were acts of self-defense and would cease if Israel stopped its aggressive actions.
According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Araqchi addressed ambassadors, officials, and heads of foreign and international missions in Tehran on Sunday. He highlighted that Iran’s defensive measures would persist in response to aggression against its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Araqchi criticized Israel’s actions as a significant strategic mistake, suggesting they were executed with the intent of expanding the conflict beyond Iranian borders. He warned that any military developments in the Persian Gulf could have far-reaching implications for both the region and the world.
The foreign minister condemned Israel’s unprovoked airstrikes since Friday, labeling them as clear acts of aggression against Iranian territory. He noted that the attacks targeted critical sites, including the nuclear facility in Natanz, as well as residential areas in Tehran and other cities. Araqchi accused Israel of disregarding boundaries, highlighting the assassination of university professors, nuclear scientists, and military commanders in their homes.
Araqchi expressed concern over the attacks on children and civilians, particularly as negotiations with the United States were ongoing. He remarked that these actions crossed new red lines in human rights violations, affecting not only Palestinians but also Iranians. The minister criticized the international community’s response, particularly the U.N. Security Council’s indifference to the attack on nuclear facilities, which he deemed a serious violation of international law.
Referring to Iran’s retaliatory measures, Araqchi stated that the response to Israeli aggression was rooted in the principle of self-defense, a legal right of every nation. He explained that initial strikes targeted military sites, but subsequent Israeli attacks on economic targets prompted Iran to respond in kind, including strikes on Israel’s refineries.
In conclusion, Araqchi expressed gratitude to the diplomats present for their countries’ condemnation of Israeli aggression and solidarity with Iran. He called on the international community to take swift action to halt Israeli crimes and aggression.