In the Name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful

On the morning of Friday, June 13, while my fellow citizens were asleep and as our people were preparing for a major national celebration, the Zionist regime launched an onslaught against our land, martyring numerous civilians, including women and children.

The world witnessed once again a military aggression, in violation of all international laws and principles, targeting densely populated cities, residential areas, civilians, urban infrastructure, including energy supply facilities, as well as the peaceful nuclear facilities of our country. This act is a flagrant violation of all international norms and regulations.

Attacking residential areas, assassinating our military personnel during a time of no war. Following this heinous crime and unforgivable aggression, we began fighting back fiercely by relying on all our own capacities and with the help of God the Almighty, and we shall resolutely continue the fight. Our response to the Zionist regime is legitimate defence in accordance with international law, with reason, and with human logic.

Undoubtedly, such attacks and actions are not surprising for this regime that is not a member of any international treaties banning weapons of mass destruction, including the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), refuses to accept IAEA oversight, possesses nuclear weapons, and openly threatens other countries with their use, should never imagine itself in a position to act as a guarantor of global order or to attack the peaceful nuclear facilities of an NPT member state.

The Israeli regime, while committing such aggression, is simultaneously engaged in genocide in the occupied Palestine and Gaza. And I would like to stress right here that we must not forget the crimes currently unfolding in the West Bank and Gaza, simply because another act of aggression is taking place.

Therefore, while we are defending Iran with all our might and fully supporting our courageous armed forces, we also remind every single country and every single member state of the UN, of their responsibility if they truly believe in the principles enshrined in the UN Charter, if they believe in the prohibition of the use of force, if they believe in the rule of law at the international level, if they believe in collective security, then they must act now.

It is unimaginable that such aggressions and crimes by the Israeli regime could have taken place without the approval and full support of certain Western governments, including the United States of America. We did not start this war; rather, it was imposed on us through aggressive actions against our country's territorial integrity. This occurred while we were preparing for a new round of negotiations aimed at addressing baseless concerns about our peaceful nuclear programme in exchange for the complete lifting of unjust sanctions.

It is clear that the Israeli regime is always seeking to disrupt any peaceful initiative and negotiation-based solution. In this regard, the Islamic Republic of Iran will respond to these illegal and cowardly actions decisively, proportionately, and fully in accordance with international law.

The UN Security Council must fulfil its responsibilities. Ambiguous statements and words aimed merely at justifying aggression, statements that equate the aggressor with the country under attack and ask Iran to exercise restraint, are nothing but hypocrisy, nothing but irresponsibility.

I extend my condolences to all the families, to the Iranian nation, and all freedom-seeking people of the world for this crime and the martyrdom of the great Iranian people. The memory of each and every one of these dear ones will forever live on in the proud history of Iran.

Iran remains determined to exercise its right to self-defence, fully protect its sovereignty, citizens, and national security by utilising all its defensive capabilities. We will continue to exercise our legitimate right to respond decisively as long as the illegal and aggressive actions of the Israeli regime against Iran persist.

Iran calls on all responsible and peace-loving members of the international community not to remain indifferent to the illegal and terrorist actions of the Israeli regime and to take urgent collective measures to hold this regime and its supporters accountable.

H.E. Ali Ghomshi
Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Accra.