Iran Accuses Israel of Aggression, Defends Retaliatory Strikes Amid Ongoing Conflict

The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran has issued a sharply-worded statement accusing Israel of violating its sovereignty and committing acts of aggression. This statement comes after the Israeli military’s recent strikes on multiple targets in Iran. 

The embassy claimed that the attacks, which began on June 13, have resulted in 224 civilian deaths and left over 1,250 people injured, including women and children.

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According to the Iranian statement, the Israeli strikes targeted residential areas and critical infrastructure, calling them clear violations of international law, including Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter. Iran asserted that under Article 51 of the UN Charter, it retains the legal right to respond in self-defense.

Iran further accused Israel of initiating the strikes while Tehran was engaged in indirect negotiations with the United States on nuclear issues, positioning the attacks as deliberate attempts to derail diplomatic efforts. 

The statement urged member states of the United Nations to condemn what Iran termed "criminal aggressions" and to take urgent collective measures to prevent further escalation.

The embassy also criticized Israel's nuclear program, describing it as a "genocidal non-NPT nuclear entity" that threatens global security while attacking Iran's civilian nuclear sites and targeting its scientists and academics.

Defending its own military response, Iran emphasized that its retaliatory strikes were aimed at Israeli military facilities and conducted under the principle of self-defense. 

It accused Israel of being the primary source of instability in West Asia, regularly violating the sovereignty of neighboring countries and targeting civilian infrastructure.

The Iranian statement concluded by asserting that Tehran's military doctrine remains defensive, with its actions intended to deter further Israeli aggression against Iran and the broader region.

The conflict continues as US military strikes have further escalated tensions, while leaders like Prime Minister Narendra Modi call for de-escalation, and India continues evacuation operations from the conflict zone under Operation Sindhu.