Iran’s Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Ali Ghomshi, has called on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to end what he described as “hypocrisy and irresponsibility” and take firm, immediate action against the Israeli regime’s “illegal and terrorist actions” targeting Iran and the Palestinian people.

In a strongly-worded statement issued in Accra following a deadly Israeli airstrike on Iranian territory on Friday, 13 June, Ambassador Ghomshi said the time had come for the international community to abandon vague language and unbalanced commentary, and instead hold Israel fully accountable for its continued aggression and disregard for international law.

"The UN Security Council must fulfil its responsibilities. Ambiguous statements that equate the aggressor with the country under attack and ask Iran to exercise restraint are nothing but hypocrisy, nothing but irresponsibility," the Ambassador declared.

Iran Demands Global Action

Ambassador Ghomshi urged all UN member states to uphold the principles of the UN Charter and take urgent, collective steps to ensure that Israel faces consequences for its actions. “If [they] truly believe in the prohibition of the use of force, in the rule of law at the international level, and in collective security, then they must act now,” he emphasised.

He described the early morning Israeli strike as a “flagrant violation” of international norms and a direct attack on Iran’s sovereignty, with targets including residential areas, energy facilities, and peaceful nuclear infrastructure. The air raid occurred as Iranians were asleep and preparing for a major national celebration, killing dozens of civilians, including women and children.

“This regime has once again launched an onslaught against our land, martyring numerous civilians. It was an aggression in clear violation of all international laws and principles,” Ghomshi said.

Accusations of Genocide and Aggression

The Iranian envoy also condemned Israel’s broader actions across the region, accusing it of committing genocide in the occupied Palestinian territories while simultaneously provoking open conflict with Iran.

“We must not forget the crimes currently unfolding in the West Bank and Gaza, simply because another act of aggression is taking place,” he said. “The Israeli regime is not a member of any major international treaty banning weapons of mass destruction, including the NPT, and it refuses IAEA oversight.”

According to Ghomshi, the Israeli regime’s aggression is enabled by its Western allies, particularly the United States. “It is unimaginable that such aggressions and crimes… could have taken place without the approval and full support of certain Western governments,” he stated.

Right to Respond

Ambassador Ghomshi insisted that Iran’s response — a coordinated missile and drone strike on Israeli military targets — was not only necessary but legally justified.

“Our response to the Zionist regime is legitimate defence in accordance with international law, with reason, and with human logic,” he affirmed. “We did not start this war; rather, it was imposed on us through aggressive actions against our country's territorial integrity.”

He added that Iran remains fully committed to protecting its sovereignty and people, declaring, “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.”

The Ambassador also extended condolences to the families of those killed and praised Iran’s armed forces, saying, “The memory of each and every one of these dear ones will forever live on in the proud history of Iran.”

Ongoing Escalation and Regional Concerns

The Israeli airstrike, launched in the early hours of Friday, 13 June, is believed to have killed at least 45 civilians and caused extensive damage to infrastructure in Isfahan and Natanz, including energy supply lines and nuclear sites. The attack marked a major escalation in hostilities between the two regional rivals.

Iran’s retaliatory strikes caused significant damage to Israeli military installations, though the full scale of casualties on both sides remains unconfirmed. Tensions in Gaza and the West Bank have also deepened, with more than 36,000 Palestinians reported dead since October 2023.

Ambassador Ghomshi’s statement came shortly after the Israeli Ambassador to Ghana gave an interview on JoyNews defending his country’s actions. The duelling narratives underline the deepening diplomatic rift and the urgency of international mediation.

As Iran presses for the Security Council to take decisive action, observers warn that continued inaction or diplomatic ambivalence could further embolden aggressors and destabilise the region further.