As stated in the world’s most reliable historical books, Great Cyrus the king of Iran at the Achaemenid period was the first to write the charter of human rights, and this charter is still the main pillars of human rights in the world. Iran as a peace-loving country, has not initiated any war or aggression during the past two hundred years, but at the same time, in order to defend its sovereignty, territorial integrity and its citizens, it will not make concessions against its enemies & ill-wishers.
Guaranteeing peace, stability and security within the country, its surrounding environment and at the international level is one of the most significantly duties of governments. The insecurity and instability, if not controlled, will quickly spread swiftly and lead to a crisis and as a result will become uncontrollable and a threat to regional and global security.
The recent retaliatory operation of the Islamic Republic against the occupying and apartheid regime of Israel was within the framework of legitimate defense contained in Article 51 of the United Nations Charter. As Iran has stated many times, the violation of the its sovereignty and national security by the terrorist regime with the assassination of Mr. Ismail Haniyeh, the former Prime Minister and Palestinian leader in Tehran, who attended an official ceremony with a large number of other participating heads and leaders of the countries, will not remain unanswered.
The Islamic Republic of Iran, as a country committed to international law and the United Nations Charter, is fully aware of its responsibilities towards the peace and security of the region and immediately after the terrorist act of the Israeli regime, has referred the situation to the United Nations Security Council demanding an action by the Security Council in line with its duties according to the United Nations Charter. This was exactly what we did after the Israeli regime attacked the embassy of I.R. Iran in Damascus.
Unfortunately, on both occasions, the Security Council, under the pressure of the United States and other supporters of the Zionist regime, failed to perform its legal and inherent duties in maintaining international security and failed to even issue a simple statement condemning the terrorist acts of the Zionist regime.
Despite the resolve and determination of the I.R of Iran to prevent and confront the terrorist and criminal activities of the Israeli regime, which was repeatedly expressed and announced by the high-ranking officials of the Islamic Republic in meetings in bilateral and multilateral talks and international circles, including in working meetings with Secretary General of the United Nations, but the failure to punish the Israeli regime during the last few months and the restraint exercised by our country in response to this terrorist aimed at deescalating and containing tensions in the region, only resulted in the aggressor and criminal Israeli regime continuing its evil and inhumane actions in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria and displaying its brutality, bringing the region to the brink of an uncontrollable war.
The regime’s abuse of the restrained approach of Iran and the unbridled continuation of evil and adventurous military and terrorist actions, including the sabotage of civilian communication devices such as pagers in Lebanon, resulted in a shocking human tragedy in that country. As a result of this terrorist and inhuman act, more than three thousand Lebanese citizens were seriously injured and dozens of people unrelated to the war were killed. These citizens, who were mainly serving their Lebanese compatriots in service sectors such as medical centers and hospitals, were the targets of organized crime and terrorism by the leaders of the Israeli regime. Among the victims of this brazen act of terrorism was the ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Beirut, who was also injured by the explosion of one of these pagers.
Unfortunately, the passive attitude of the United Nations Security Council towards such serial crimes, which are examples of crimes of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, crimes of aggression and collective punishment, and blind assassinations, caused the Israeli regime to cross all the red lines drawn by international community with more boldness and brazenness and continue its unprecedented criminal acts.
The widespread use of the prohibited weapons of mass destruction made by the United States of America, such as bunker-buster bombs against civilian and residential centers in Lebanon, is yet another instance of the commission of war crimes and genocide by the terrorist regime of Israel. As a result of such barbaric actions, hundreds of innocent Lebanese people died in the most heinous way and tens of thousands of others suffered physical injuries and burns. The use of such deadly and prohibited weapons by the Israeli criminal army against human gatherings and residential areas in the southern suburbs of Beirut resulted in the martyrdom of Seyed Hassan Nasrallah, the popular and beloved leader and general secretary of Hezbollah of Lebanon and a number of political figures of this party.
Israel has been violating Lebanon’s air and land space for years by violating Resolution 1701. Hezbollah and resistance’s taking up arms is the natural result of the occupation and aggression of the Zionist regime, and as long as this danger exists, there will be legitimate resistance. It is an undisputed fact that a part of the Lebanese territory is currently occupied by the Zionists, and according to international law, resistance to foreign occupation using all available means, including armed struggle, is an inherent right.
This regime’s aggressions against Lebanon showed that the weapons of Hezbollah and the Resistance are a vital necessity in the defense of the people and the country of Lebanon. Airstrikes and destruction of residential areas in Lebanon, the use of non-conventional weapons by the Zionist regime, such as blowing up communication devices used by ordinary people and bombing residential houses with American bunker-buster bombs, show the brutal nature of this regime, and therefore the right to resist in self-defense and respond is their natural right.
Unfortunately, the United Nations Security Council is unable to adopt a proportionate and deterrent response to restrain and punish this war-mongering regime due to the comprehensive support of the United States to the Zionist regime. The continuation of such aggressive actions violates international regulations, especially international humanitarian law, including the provisions of the 1949 Geneva Conventions and the 1961 Vienna Convention. The continuation of such actions is a threat to international peace and security on the part of the Israeli regime, and on this basis, the Security Council is obliged to take action against the insistence of this regime to continue the war and bloodshed in Gaza and Lebanon, and based on the 7th chapter of the United Nations Charter, it must impose severe sanctions against this regime. We expect other countries to play an effective and constructive role in protecting the security of the region in response to the adventurisms and military-terrorist evils of the Israeli regime.
The operation of the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran was carried out in fulfillment of the inherent right of legitimate defense and it was absolutely necessary to prevent further evils of the Zionist regime against my country. This operation was carried out after two months of restraint and the inaction of the Security Council towards the occupying regime, and it was completely in line with the wicked deeds of that regime.
As the high-ranking political and military officials of Iran have announced, we consider this phase to be over. However, at the same time, we are fully prepared to respond to any aggressive and terrorist act of the Israeli regime. If the regime commits another mistake in violation of our sovereignty, national security and attacks on the interests, places and citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran, (As done last week by this regime) the regime will immediately and strongly receive a crushing answer that will teach it a lesson, just like the responses it received in the “True Promise” and “True Promise II” operations from the armed forces of Iran, as the result of which it suffered the destruction of its military, intelligence and security centers.
In conclusion, I would like to emphasize the determination of the Islamic Republic of Iran to establish regional and global peace and security.
