Iran chides UK, French, German envoys for ‘irresponsible stance’ to strikes on Israel
As Iran’s foreign ministry lambasts European countries for ‘double standards,’ Russia backs Tehran’s claim of self-defense, expresses ‘extreme concern’ over ‘dangerous escalation’
Iran’s foreign ministry summoned on Sunday the ambassadors of Britain, France, and Germany to question what it referred to as their “irresponsible stance” regarding Tehran’s retaliatory strikes on Israel, according to the semi-official Iranian Labour News Agency.
The three European countries had condemned Iran’s drone and missile attack against Israel late Saturday night through early Sunday, which came in retaliation for Israel’s alleged bombing of Iran’s consulate in Syria on April 1.
The director for Western Europe at Iran’s foreign ministry accused the three countries of “double standards” as they earlier this month opposed a Russian-drafted UN Security Council statement that would have condemned Israel’s attack on Iran’s embassy compound in Syria, which killed several members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, seen by the West as a terror group.
“Iran’s military action against the Zionist regime’s (Israel) bases is well within the framework of the right to legitimate defense stipulated in Article 51 of the United Nations Charter and it is in response to a series of crimes, including the recent attack on the embassy compound in Syria,” the official added.
Israel reported modest damage and reopened its airspace on Sunday morning after Iran launched a large wave of around 300 attack drones and missiles in the first-ever direct attack on the Jewish state by the Islamic Republic, while the United States said it would discuss a diplomatic response with major powers.
The G7, which includes France, Germany and the United Kingdom, was expected to hold a video call later on Sunday to discuss Iran’s attack.
Russia said on Sunday it was extremely concerned by the Iranian strikes and called on all parties to exercise restraint, but said tensions would remain high until the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians was resolved.
“We express our extreme concern over another dangerous escalation in the region,” Russia’s foreign ministry said in a statement on the Iranian attacks. “We call on all parties involved to exercise restraint.”
Russia noted Tehran’s claim that the attack was made within the right to self-defense after the strike in Damascus, which Moscow condemned.
Russia, which has close ties to Iran, said that the West had blocked attempts in the UN Security Council to respond to the Israeli strike on the consulate.
“We have repeatedly warned that the numerous unresolved crises in the Middle East, primarily in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone, which are often fueled by irresponsible provocative actions, will lead to an increase in tension,” the ministry said.
The Kremlin has yet to comment publicly, but former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev said that a war between Israel and Iran would worsen Joe Biden’s prospects of being re-elected US president.
“America does not want a big war in the Middle East,” Medvedev said on Telegram. “The killings in Gaza worsen Biden’s prospects in the elections, and war between Israel and Iran would introduce additional uncertainty.”
