WANA (Apr 09) – Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister stated that Iran is completely opposed to any temporary settlement of the current situation that would repeat the cycle of negotiation, war, and ceasefire, asserting that only the option of a sustainable end to the war, holding aggressors accountable, and compensation for damages can be considered.

 

Jean Arnault, the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for the Middle East, met with Kazem Gharibabadi, the Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, on Thursday.

 

Kazem Gharibabadi characterized the military aggression by the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran as a violation of international law and the UN Charter.

 

He criticized the United Nations for its failure to condemn the aggression, its lack of effort to stop it, and its failure to hold the aggressors accountable.

 

“In this war, the United States and the Zionist regime have attacked tens of thousands of civilian targets and martyred and injured thousands of innocent people,” he stated.

 

“The attack and destruction of residential homes, hospitals, schools, historical and cultural sites, and infrastructure are clear examples of crimes against humanity and war crimes. Unfortunately, these criminals boast about and support their crimes, including the killing of children, which is the height of brutality and inhumanity.”

 

The Deputy Foreign Minister criticized countries on the southern coast of the Persian Gulf for allowing the U.S. to use their territory, including military bases stationed there, effectively making them complicit in this aggression and entailing international responsibility.

 

He described Iran’s actions as defensive and not directed against these countries, adding, “It has become clear that foreign presence is a factor of instability and a threat to the security of the region and its countries.”

 

Referring to the failure of Iran’s enemies and the significant successes and resistance of Iranians in this “imposed war,” Gharibabadi added: “Iran is completely opposed to any temporary settlement of this situation in a way that repeats the cycle of negotiation, war, and ceasefire; only the option of a sustainable end to the war, holding the aggressors accountable, and the compensation for damages can be considered.”

 

The Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General stated during the meeting: “The ultimate goal of the United Nations at present is to reach an agreement and a sustainable settlement of the situation that covers all aspects of the crisis.”

 

Jean Arnault defined his duty as the Special Envoy to be addressing the root causes of the crisis that led to these conditions.