Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nasser Kanaani
Tehran/Washington: Slamming a statement released by three European countries, France, Germany and the United Kingdom, on the developments in the Middle East region, Iran today turned down the European trio’s request to forgo punitive measures against Israel. The United States warned Iran may attack Israel this week itself.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nasser Kanaani today said, “The statement by the heads of the three European states was published at a time when the Israeli regime continues to commit all kinds of international crimes, including genocide and war crimes against the defenceless Palestinian nation, due to the indifference of the Western countries supporting the regime.”
He further noted, “The statement by the three mentioned countries, without making any objection against the Zionist regime’s offences and international crimes, shamelessly demands the Islamic Republic of Iran not take any deterrent measures against the regime that has violated its sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
The Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson stressed, “Such demands are void of political logic, in complete contradiction to the principles and rules of international law, and excessive.”
Kanaani added the trio’s request is regarded as a “public and practical support for the origin of international crimes and terrorism in the region and as an encouragement and reward to those who order and commit genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and terrorism.”
White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby earlier on August 12, 2024 (local time) cited statements made by “our Israeli counterparts” about their expectations that Iran and its proxies (the Houthis, Hamas, and Hezbollah) were likely going to attack Israel in the coming days. “…we do share the assessment made by our Israeli counterparts that something could happen as soon as this week by Iran and its proxies,” Kirby said. He added: “…we’re watching very, very closely what Iran and its proxies might do this week, and we got to make sure we’re ready for that as well.” He elaborated saying the US was prepared for what could be a “significant set of attacks”, and increased its force posture and capabilities in the region in the last few days.
Already in April 2024, Iran mounted an unprecedented attack on Israel damaging two airbases, two weeks after two Iranian generals were killed in a strike on Tehran’s embassy in Syria. As Iran launched 300 projectiles, including ballistic missiles, at Israel, the United States for the first time ever participated in its active defence and US President Joe Biden brought together a coalition of countries that helped defend Israel against the attack.
Things worsened after the assassination of Sheikh Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas’ political bureau, when he was in Tehran to attend the swearing-in ceremony of new Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkianin July 2024. Israel has remained non-committal about his assassination. However, when Ali Bagheri, Iran’s Acting Foreign Minister, visited the office of Hamas in Tehran to pay his tribute to Haniyeh, he told Hamas’ representative Khaled Qaddoumi, “…the humiliation of the Zionist regime has become more apparent”.
Kirby said the US was concerned about escalation and didn’t want to see Israel have to defend itself against another attack like they did in April. “But if that’s what comes at them, we will continue to help them defend themselves,” he asserted.
Meanwhile, pointing at the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, Kanaani “blasted” the United Nations and the UN Security Council for their failure to adopt a “deterrent move against the criminal Zionist regime for more than ten months”. He also warned that Israel’s inhumane crimes against the Palestinian nation and its assassinations overseas take on new dimensions every day. “Surprisingly, no practical and effective measures have been taken by Western countries, including Germany, France, and the UK, to stop or deal with the crimes,” the Iranian diplomat stated. He added: “The impunity of the Zionist authorities has added to their shamelessness in committing the most wicked offences and international crimes…If the mentioned countries are really looking for peace and stability in the region, they should once and for all stand against the belligerence and adventurism of the apartheid Israeli regime, and immediately stop the war against Gaza and the odious and horrific slaughter of Palestinian women, children and defenselessness citizens.”
Kanaani said Iran was “firm and resolute” in defending its sovereignty and national security, as well as helping to establish lasting stability in the region and creating deterrence against the real origin and main source of insecurity and terrorism in the region. He emphasized Iran won’t ask for permission from anyone to use its “established rights”.
Iran further held the “inaction” of the states and the UN Security Council “towards the savagery of the brutal Zionist regime, and also the large-scale political and military support by the Western governments to the regime”, as the main factor in the spread of the crisis in the region. He held the supporters of the Israeli regime responsible for its ongoing and unrestricted crimes in Gaza and West Asia.
In the mean time, the United States of America expressed its “deep” concerns over the reports that Iran was planning to deliver hundreds of ballistic missiles to Russia.
“We have been warning of the deepening security partnership between Russia and Iran since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This partnership threatens European security and illustrates how Iran’s destabilizing influence reaches beyond the Middle East and around the world,” a US State Department spokesperson said in Washington.
– global bihari bureau
