Tehran has called on the United Nations Secretary-General and members of the Security Council to fulfil their responsibilities without delay, according to a press release issued on Monday by the Embassy of Iran in Nicosia. The statement adds that while Iran was prepared for negotiations, it is even more prepared to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The press release states that in the early hours of 28 February, on the eve of the Persian New Year and the tenth day of the holy month of Ramadan, the United States and Israel “blatantly violated the territorial integrity and national sovereignty of Iran by launching attacks against several defence facilities, infrastructure and civilian sites in various cities across our country”. It notes that this renewed act of military aggression occurred while Iran and the United States were engaged in a diplomatic process.
The statement describes the action as having placed regional and global peace and security under an unprecedented threat.
“Despite being aware of the intentions of the United States and the Zionist regime to commit another act of aggression, we re-entered negotiations to demonstrate to the international community and all nations of the world the legitimacy of the Iranian people’s position and to remove any pretext for unlawful aggression,” it adds.
According to the statement, the Iranian people now stand “proud, knowing they did everything in their power to prevent war”. However, it continues, “the time has come to defend the homeland and confront the enemy’s military attack. Just as we were prepared for negotiations, we are even more prepared to defend Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”.
It further states that the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran “will use all necessary capabilities and resources” to repel hostile actions.
The airstrikes carried out by the United States and Israel are described as a clear violation of Article 2(4) of the UN Charter and an act of armed aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran. Citing Article 51 of the Charter, the statement asserts that Iran has the inherent and legitimate right to self-defence.
The Islamic Republic of Iran underlines what it calls the serious responsibility of the United Nations and its Security Council to take immediate action in response to what it describes as a violation of international peace and security. It calls on the UN Secretary-General, the President of the Security Council and all Council members to act without delay.
The statement also says that all UN member states, particularly regional and Islamic countries, members of the Non-Aligned Movement and governments that value international peace and security, are expected to unequivocally condemn what it describes as this act of aggression and to take urgent and collective measures in response.
Concluding, the statement says that the Iranian people have never submitted to domination or foreign aggression and that this time too, Iran’s response will be firm and decisive.
Source: CNA