WANA (Jul 05) – The Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in a statement marking the 43rd anniversary of the abduction of four Iranian diplomats in Lebanon, emphasized that the kidnapping of Iranian diplomats in Beirut constitutes an act of terrorism.

 

The statement reads: “On the 43rd anniversary of the abduction of four Iranian diplomats in Lebanon—Mr. Seyed Mohsen Mousavi, Ahmad Motevaselian, Kazem Akhavan, and Taghi Rastegar Moghaddam—by agents affiliated with the Zionist regime, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran honors their memory and expresses solidarity with their patient and hopeful families.”

 

The statement adds: “As has been repeatedly stated, there is ample evidence indicating that the Iranian diplomats were abducted by an armed group inside Lebanon during the occupation of Lebanese territory by the Zionist regime, and were subsequently handed over to the occupying forces and transferred to the occupied territories.”

 

The Ministry further emphasized: “The abduction of the Iranian diplomats on July 5, 1982, in Beirut was not only a blatant violation of international law and the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, but also meets the criteria of a terrorist act under the 1979 International Convention Against the Taking of Hostages.”

 

The statement continues: “The Islamic Republic of Iran holds the Zionist regime responsible for the abduction and hostage-taking of its citizens and continues to seriously pursue the matter through relevant international bodies.”

 

It also states: “While appreciating the cooperation of the Lebanese government in pursuing the case of the four kidnapped Iranian diplomats—including the official correspondence sent to the then UN Secretary-General in September 2008—Iran once again calls on the Lebanese authorities, the UN Secretary-General, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and other competent international bodies to fulfill their legal and humanitarian responsibilities in this matter and do their utmost to clarify the fate of the abducted diplomats.”

 

The statement concludes: “In this context, the Islamic Republic of Iran reiterates its proposal to establish a joint fact-finding committee between Iran and Lebanon, with the cooperation of the International Committee of the Red Cross, to investigate the case and determine the fate of the kidnapped Iranian diplomats.”

Background:

On July 5, 1982, a diplomatic vehicle belonging to the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, returning from the port city of Tripoli to Beirut under the protection of Lebanese diplomatic police, was stopped in the Barbara area in violation of international law and diplomatic immunity.

 

Armed mercenaries under the command of the Israeli regime, known as the “Lebanese Forces,” abducted three Iranian diplomats and a journalist traveling with them. Since then, the fate of Seyed Mohsen Mousavi (Chargé d’affaires), Ahmad Motevaselian (Military Attaché), Taghi Rastegar Moghaddam (Staff), and Kazem Akhavan (IRNA journalist and photographer) remains unknown.