Veteran diplomat’s assassination reflects Israeli agenda to undermine diplomacy: Iran’s UN envoy

Iran’s ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations has strongly denounced the assassination of Kamal Kharrazi, the head of the Strategic Council of Foreign Relations and former foreign minister, as reflective of Israel’s deliberate and criminal policy of systematically undermining diplomacy.

In two identical letters addressed to the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and the rotating president of the UN Security Council, Amir Saeid Iravani said that the veteran Iranian diplomat succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced martyred in the early hours of Friday.

Kharrazi’s residence was struck during American-Israeli bombings in Tehran on April 1, which resulted in the martyrdom of his wife.

“This attack constitutes a clear example of an intentional criminal act against a residential neighborhood, as well as the targeted killing of a distinguished non-military personality. It is a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, particularly the right to life,” the letters read.

Iravani underlined that the late Iranian foreign minister had a strong belief in strengthening multilateralism and played an outstanding role in the establishment of peace worldwide, especially through constant contributions to the annual summit of Leaders of Peace in the French capital, Paris.

Leader offers condolences on martyrdom of veteran diplomat Kamal Kharrazi

Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei has offered condolences on the martyrdom of Kamal Kharrazi, head of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations and a former top diplomat, in terrorist US-Israeli strikes.

The letters highlighted that Kharrazi was firmly and staunchly committed to international law, the principles and objectives of the UN Charter and multilateral diplomacy in order to amicably resolve disputes as one of the main pillars of international calm and security.

“Not only does his assassination constitute unlawful stripping of a civilian of his right to life, but also marks an attack on diplomacy and fundamentals of international peaceful interactions,” Iravani said.

He went on to note that the assassination once again signifies the fact that the aggressive and terrorist Israeli regime deems any voice advocating for peace, negotiations, and diplomacy as fiercely against its illegal, destructive, and destabilizing goals.

Iravani stated that the Islamic Republic of Iran condemns in the strongest terms the assassination of its former foreign minister, adding that the criminal act falls within the framework of systematic and comprehensive attacks on Iranian civilians, non-military infrastructure, and senior officials ever since the US-Israeli war of aggression began on February 28.

The Iranian ambassador to the UN concluded that Tehran holds the Washington and Tel Aviv regimes fully and completely liable for the heinous act of assassinating Kharrazi, which blatantly contravenes all accepted international principles and rules.

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