Iranian embassy employee killed in Damascus car attack

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
21 Dec 2024 14:40
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Iran has condemned the killing of Davoud Bitaraf, an employee at its embassy in Damascus, who was fatally shot in a targeted attack last Sunday.

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Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei. (Official photo – Mehr)

The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned the killing of Davoud Bitaraf, an employee at its embassy in Damascus, who was fatally shot by armed assailants last Sunday while traveling in his car.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei extended condolences for Bitaraf’s killing, denouncing the attack as a "terrorist act". He revealed that the victim's body was recovered, identified, and repatriated to Tehran in recent days.

Baghaei called on the newly formed authorities in Damascus to take swift action to apprehend and prosecute those responsible. He also announced that Iran would pursue the case through international legal channels and diplomatic efforts.

Iran conditions reopening of embassy in Syria on security guarantees

In a statement earlier this week, Baghaei emphasized that the reopening of the Iranian embassy in Damascus depends on ensuring the safety of the embassy and its diplomatic mission members.

Iran emphasized that its presence in Syria was purely advisory and at the request of the Syrian government, adding, "Our presence in Syria was advisory and based on the request of the Syrian government, and our exit from it was conducted responsibly."

Iran also condemned the expanding Israeli military aggressions in the region, accusing "Israel" of violating Syrian sovereignty. "The Zionist entity is attacking Syrian sovereignty and violating the ceasefire agreement," the Foreign Ministry said.

The Iranian government called on the international community to take action against Israeli aggressions, particularly in Syria and Yemen. "The international community must stop the Zionist entity's attacks on the countries of the region, including Syria and Yemen," the statement read.

Additionally, Iran criticized the inability of international institutions, particularly the United Nations, to act against the ongoing violence in Gaza, blaming US obstruction. "International institutions, especially the UN, are unable to take action to stop the genocide in Gaza because of the stubbornness of the US," the Iranian Foreign Ministry concluded.