WANA (August 07) – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran issued a statement today (Wednesday, August 7) on the occasion of the anniversary of the martyrdom of Iranian diplomats and a journalist in Mazar-i-Sharif. The statement reads as follows:

 

Twenty-six years ago, on August 8, 1998, following the fall of the city of Mazar-i-Sharif to Taliban forces, eight diplomats and one journalist from the Islamic Republic of Iran were martyred at the Iranian Consulate General in Mazar-i-Sharif. This act blatantly violated all diplomatic principles, international laws and regulations, and human and ethical commitments.

 

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1267 explicitly declared the attack on the Consulate General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Mazar-i-Sharif and the murder of the Iranian diplomats and a journalist as a clear violation of international law.

 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran reserves the right to pursue all aspects of this painful terrorist act and to provide answers to the noble people of Iran and the grieving families.

 

We once again call on the interim government of Afghanistan to announce the results of their investigations into the perpetrators of this crime and to impose appropriate punishment.

 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran prays to Almighty God to grant the highest ranks in heaven to the esteemed martyrs of Mazar-i-Sharif: Nasser Rigi, Nourallah Nouroozi, Karim Heydarian, Rashid Pariaw Fallah, Heydar Ali Bagheri, Mohammad Ali Ghiyasi, Majid Noori Niaraki, Mohammad Nasser Naseri, and Mahmoud Saremi.