Lavrov reaffirms 'condemnation' of Israeli attack in call with Iran FM

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
13 Apr 2024 20:06
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The Russian Foreign Minister holds a phone call with his Iranian counterpart, reiterating Russia's 'strong condemnation' of the Israeli attack on the consulate.

Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sideline of the BRICS in Cape Town, South Africa, June 2, 2023. (Russian MFA Press via AP)

The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that Sergey Lavrov, Russia's top diplomat, expressed criticism of the Israeli airstrike that resulted in the martyrdom of several Iranian, Syrian, and other personnel at the Iranian consulate in Syria during a recent phone conversation with his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.

"The focus was on the situation in the Middle East. Russia reiterated its strong condemnation of the April 1 Israeli airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus. It emphasized that any attempt to violate the integrity of diplomatic or consular premises, which is enshrined in Vienna conventions, is absolutely unacceptable, as are politically motivated murders," the statement read.

The ministers reiterated their dedication to maintaining ongoing communication regarding global and regional matters and showed enthusiasm for enhancing political, diplomatic, economic, and trade ties between their nations.

It is worth noting that on April 3, the UN Security Council held an urgent session at the request of Russia to discuss the Israeli aggression against the Iranian consulate in the Syrian capital Damascus.

Iran says 'Israel' 'in complete panic' over consulate attack response

An advisor to the Iranian leader Sayyed Ali Khamenei warned earlier on Saturday that the Israeli occupation is frantic over Iran's anticipated retaliation following an attack on the country's consulate in Syria that killed seven Iranian military advisors, including one senior commander and his deputy.

ISNA news agency quoted Yahya Rahim Safavi, a senior advisor to Sayyed Khamenei as saying, "It has been a week that the Zionists are in complete panic and are on alert."

"They don't know what Iran wants to do, so they and their supporters are terrified," ISNA quoted him as saying.

Safavi added that "this psychological, media and political war is more terrifying for them than the war itself because they are waiting for an attack every night and many of them have fled and gone to shelters."

Israeli media reported on Friday that Iran's threat to retaliate for the assassination of Quds Force leaders in the attack that targeted its consulate in Syria has left "Israel" paralyzed with fear.

Israeli media also indicated that the Israeli occupation forces have raised their alert status, noting that "regular soldiers and reservists from certain units who planned to travel received notice of travel cancellation [procedurally, traveling abroad requires approval from the army]."

This development comes in the wake of fears of targeting Israeli occupation forces abroad. Israeli media in recent days have discussed the rising fear within the Israeli occupation of Iran's response.

Due to its fear of retaliation, the occupation closed 28 of its legations worldwide, according to Israeli media reports.

Israeli Channel 13 had previously reported days ago that the Israeli occupation forces announced the mobilization of reserves in the anti-air formation due to the state of alert and readiness for fear of an Iranian response.

The Israeli channel also indicated, for the first time, a fear of direct fire from Iran toward "Israel", quoting security sources diagnosing Iran as "more determined to respond than ever before."