China, Egypt & Lebanon condemn the Israeli attack on Iranian consulate

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
2 Apr 2024 15:35
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China, Egypt, and Lebanon condemned the Israeli aggression targeting the Iranian consulate in Damascus, which resulted in the martyrdom of senior Iranian consultants including martyr Mohammad Reza Zahedi and martyr Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi.

An image from the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria, a day after the Israeli occupation's aggression on April 2, 2024. (Social media)

Condemnations continue following the Israeli occupation's attack targeting the Iranian consulate in Damascus, which occurred yesterday, resulting in the death of martyr Mohammad Reza Zahedi alongside six other martyrs from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the aggression, affirming its rejection of attacks on diplomatic facilities "under any pretext," expressing solidarity with Syria in "respecting its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and people."

مصر تدين استهداف مقر القنصلية الإيرانية في العاصمة السورية دمشق… نرفض رفضاً قاطعاً الاعتداء على المنشآت الدبلوماسية تحت أى مبرر… ونتضامن مع سوريا الشقيقة فى احترام سيادتها وسلامة أراضيها وشعبها الشقيق
— Egypt MFA Spokesperson (@MfaEgypt) April 2, 2024

Similarly, the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate building in Damascus, emphasizing that targeting diplomatic premises and missions "constitutes a clear violation of international law and a serious breach of the Vienna Conventions." The ministry highlighted that this "dangerous escalation in violating international laws and norms inevitably threatens regional and international peace and security."

تدين وزارة الخارجية والمغتربين بشدة الاعتداء الاسرائيلي على مبنى القنصلية الايرانية في دمشق وتؤكد أن استهداف المقار والبعثات الدبلوماسية يشكل خرقاً موصوفاً للقانون الدولي وانتهاكاً خطيراً لاتفاقيتي فيينا للعلاقات الدبلوماسية والقنصلية اللتين تضمنان حصانة وحرمة المقرات الدبلوماسية
— Mofa Lebanon (@Mofalebanon) April 2, 2024

China has also condemned the targeting of the Iranian consulate.

#FMsays China condemns Israel's missile attack on the consulate building of the Iranian embassy in Damascus, FM spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Tuesday, adding the security of diplomatic missions brooks no violation. pic.twitter.com/Pr1CCFNGuO
— China Daily (@ChinaDaily) April 2, 2024

Swiss ambassador summoned, Security Council to convene

The Iranian Foreign Minister announced earlier that a Swiss embassy official, who represents Washington's interests in the absence of the US embassy in Iran, was summoned to the Iranian Foreign Ministry over the Israeli aggression that targeted the country's consulate in the Syrian capital Damascus on Monday.

"Against the backdrop of the terrorist attack by the Israeli regime on the diplomatic building of the consulate of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Damascus and the death of a number of our country’s military advisers, tonight at 00:45, an official of the Swiss embassy, as a defender of US interests in Iran, was summoned to the Iranian Foreign Ministry," Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said on X.

Through the Swiss embassy official, "an important message was sent to the US government as a supporter of the Israeli regime," the top diplomat mentioned, stressing that "the US must be held accountable."

Moreover, the Iranian Mission to the United Nations affirmed, on Monday evening, that Iran has the right to take action as a response to the Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus.

"The aggressor Zionist regime bears full responsibility for its consequences and the Islamic Republic of Iran reserves its legitimate and inherent right under international law and the United Nations Charter to take a decisive response to such reprehensible acts," the statement said.

It also asked to convene a UN Security Council meeting, describing the Israeli attack on the consulate as "a huge violation of international law."

Later, Russian First Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Dmitry Polyanskiy, confirmed on Telegram that a Security Council meeting to discuss the Israeli attack will be held on Tuesday at Russia’s request.