Iran summons UK, France, German envoys
New Delhi, Apr 14: Iran’s foreign ministry has called in ambassadors from the United Kingdom, France, and Germany following their condemnation of Tehran's unprecedented attack on Israel.
The director for Western Europe at Iran’s foreign ministry accused the three countries of “double standards”, pointing to their opposition to a Russian-drafted UN Security Council statement condemning Israel’s recent attack on Iran’s embassy compound in Syria.
Iran issued a stern warning to Israel, urging against any “reckless” retaliation to its aerial assault and threatening a “much stronger response”.
Strong condemnation has been directed towards Western members of the UN Security Council for their failure to denounce Israel's attack on Iran’s consulate in Syria on April 1, which resulted in the deaths of seven members of its Revolutionary Guard, including two senior generals.
Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Bagheri emphasised that Iran had concluded its operation against Israel, citing Israel’s violation of Iran’s red lines as the impetus for the operation.
Bagheri reiterated that Iran’s Supreme Leader endorsed the response following the attack on Iran's consulate in Damascus.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a warning to the US against supporting actions harmful to Iranian interests, promising a proportional response to threats from any country, especially the US and Israel.
President Ebrahim Raisi praised the IRGC for teaching Israel “an unforgettable lesson” with their drone and missile operation, asserting Iran’s right to legitimate self-defence.
Raisi criticised the UN Security Council’s inaction and reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to regional peace and stability.
He cautioned of a firm and regrettable response to any new hostile actions against Iran’s interests and urged supporters of Israel to appreciate Iran’s responsible and proportionate action.
Raisi reiterated Iran’s determination to defend itself against external hostilities and emphasised the unity and solidarity of the Iranian nation.
Commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), Major General Hossein Salami, hailed the operation against Israel as more successful than anticipated, highlighting the precise targeting of Israeli resources.
He warned of a response to any Israeli attack on Iranian interests, assets, or citizens, signalling Iran’s readiness to confront Israeli aggression from its soil.
The Iranian ministry invoked Article 51 of the UN Charter to justify its attack on Israel, citing the right to self-defence in response to an armed attack.
The Israeli airstrike on Tehran’s consulate in Damascus is argued by Iran to constitute a direct assault on its sovereignty.
Meanwhile, the UN Security Council has called for an emergency meeting to address the escalating situation.
Israel’s UN envoy formally requested the meeting following Iran’s drone strikes against Israel.
As tensions escalate, recent events follow a series of incidents in the region, including the destruction of Iran's consulate in Damascus and subsequent threats of retaliation from Iranian officials.
With both Israel and Iran on high alert, the potential for further hostilities remains a pressing concern.
According to IRNA, the Iranian news agency, a gathering of Iranians assembled in front of Tehran University to celebrate the attack in the early hours of Sunday to express support for drone and missile strikes on targets in Israel.
