Iran underscores its ‘self-defense right’ after Israel airstrikes

CAIRO – 26 October 2024: The Iranian Foreign Ministry on Saturday reaffirmed "Tehran's inherent right, under Article 51 of the UN Charter, to self-defense against foreign acts of aggression", the local Tasnim News Agency reported

In a statement, the Iranian Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the Israeli aggressive measure "as a clear violation of the international law, the UN Charter, and the article on prohibition of threat or use of force against the territorial integrity and sovereignty of states."

“On the basis of its inherent right to legitimate defense, stipulated in the Article 51 of the UN Charter, the Islamic Republic of Iran considers itself to be rightful and duty bound to defend against the foreign acts of aggression,” it added.

The statement noted that "Tehran will employ all of the physical and spiritual capabilities of the Iranian nation to protect its interests and security."

"Being mindful of its duties to protect regional peace and security, Iran reminds all regional countries of their individual and collective responsibilities to safeguard peace and stability in the region," the statement read,

The Iranian Foreign Ministry said "the root cause of tensions and insecurity in the region is the continuation of the Israeli regime’s occupation and illegal and criminal actions, especially the genocide of Palestinian people and the acts of aggression against Lebanon."

RETALIATORY WAVES

Israel announced on Saturday launching three waves of pre-dawn strikes against military targets in Iran, in retaliation for the Iranian ballistic missile attack on Israel earlier in October.

The Iranian army announced the death of two soldiers as a result of the attack, noting that the strikes targeted military centers in Tehran, Khuzestan and Ilam.

The Iranian army stressed that it “successfully intercepted” the strike and that the damage was "limited."

On 1 October, Iran launched around 200 ballistic missiles towards Israel, constituting Tehran’s most substantial direct assault on its long-standing adversary and the second such attack since the Gaza war started on October 7 last year.

Tehran's offensive was a retaliatory measure after Israel's assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July as well as Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Abbas Nilforoushan, a commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, in Lebanon in September.

World leaders have repeatedly warned about the looming threat of an all-out war as tensions escalate dramatically in the region, with Iran and Israel trading fire and issuing vows of retaliation against each other.

This latest escalation compounds an already volatile regional landscape, marked by the prolonged Israeli war in Gaza, now in its second year, and Israeli airstrikes and ground offensives in Lebanon over the past weeks.

Tragically, both conflicts have killed tens of thousands of civilian lives.

After today’s attack, a senior American official urged an end to retaliatory strikes between Iran and Israel but said the United States will be ready to defend Israel if Iran responds.

Egypt Today and MENA contributed to the report.