Australian Foreign Minister Calls for Iranian Restraint Following Israeli Strike
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has called on Iran to exhibit more self-restraint in the aftermath of the Israeli airstrike targeting the consular section of the Iranian Embassy in Damascus, Syria.
In a telephone conversation with her Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian on Thursday night, Wong conveyed Canberra's deep concerns regarding indications suggesting Tehran's potential plans for a retaliatory military response against Israel.
Wong emphasized the importance for Iran to utilize its influence in the region to foster stability, underscoring the necessity for de-escalation.
However, Amirabdollahian criticized the lack of condemnation from the UN Security Council regarding the Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate, calling it as a violation of international law and conventions.
He expressed frustration, stating, “Some Western governments do not condemn this terrorist act, which clearly violates international law and international conventions. Whilst they continue to support the crimes of Zionists, they are simply urging Iran to exercise self-restraint.”
Amirabdollahian further called for increased pressure on Israel to halt the ongoing genocidal war and humanitarian crisis in Gaza, condemning the policies that perpetuate suffering among the residents of the region.
In a social media post on Thursday, Amirabdollahian referenced discussions with counterparts from Germany, the United Kingdom, and Australia, highlighting the imperative for holding the aggressor accountable.
He asserted, “When the Zionist regime tramples on international law and Vienna Conventions and violates the immunity of diplomatic agents and premises, and the UNSC is incapable of issuing a statement in condemnation of the terrorist attack on the Iranian Embassy in Damascus, legitimate defense with the objective of punishing the aggressor becomes a necessity.”
The Iranian foreign minister stressed that Iran seeks sustainable security in the region, which is “tied to controlling warmongering and deranged leaders of the Zionist regime and the viable cessation of this regime’s war crimes in Gaza and the West Bank."
Acknowledging messages of congratulations received on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, Amirabdollahian reiterated Iran's commitment to seeking peace while warning against escalating tensions.
The Israeli airstrike on April 1 targeted the Iranian consulate in Damascus, resulting in casualties including two senior Iranian military figures and five accompanying officers.
Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps identified Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi and his deputy General Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi as among the seven martyrs of the attack.
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has vowed that Iran will “punish” Israel and make the evil regime “regret” its crime of assassinating the country's military advisors in Syria, while President Ebrahim Raeisi condemned Israel's pattern of targeted assassinations in Syria, promising that the regime’s latest crime against Iranian military advisers in Syria “will not go unanswered.”
