SEOUL, June 18 (AJP) - Through a statement released Wednesday, the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Republic of Korea has condemned Israel’s recent airstrikes on Iranian territory and urged the international community to uphold international law and prevent further escalation.
In the statement released on Jun. 18, Iranian Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Saeed Koozechi described the Jun. 13 attacks as a large-scale, coordinated assault involving air, missile, and drone strikes. According to the embassy, the attacks targeted residential neighborhoods, civilian infrastructure, and nuclear facilities that are under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards. One of the strikes reportedly killed 60 civilians, including 35 women and children.
"The nature of the attack leaves no room for ambiguity," Ambassador Koozechi wrote. "It constitutes an act of aggression in direct violation of international law. The legal threshold has been clearly crossed."
The statement emphasized that Iran’s nuclear installations have been consistently verified by the IAEA as peaceful and remain subject to what it called the most intrusive inspection regime in the world. It cited IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi and past General Conference resolutions that classify military attacks on safeguarded nuclear sites as violations of the UN Charter and international law.
"These resolutions underscore the grave risks such attacks pose to nuclear safety and security and highlight their profoundly destabilizing impact on regional and international peace," the statement read.
The embassy described the Israeli strikes as part of a broader pattern, accusing the government in Tel Aviv of repeatedly targeting civilians and defying international norms. It also pointed to ongoing proceedings at the International Court of Justice and allegations of war crimes committed by senior Israeli leaders.
"The rule of law is not being neglected—it is being willfully dismantled," the statement said.
Iran, the embassy noted, responded under Article 51 of the UN Charter, which guarantees the right to self-defense in the event of an armed attack. The ambassador said Iran's response was "carefully calibrated" to focus only on military targets while minimizing civilian harm, in line with international humanitarian law.
The statement criticized the UN Security Council’s lack of action, contrasting it with the swift condemnation of Israel’s 1981 strike on Iraq’s Osirak reactor. "The law remains clear. Yet today, the Council stands paralyzed—its deliberations stifled by political pressure and the protective shield extended by a small group of powerful states."
The statement concluded with a call for international solidarity: "Sovereignty is not negotiable. Nuclear installations under IAEA safeguards should not be targeted. Armed force must not be allowed to replace diplomacy. The path to peace begins with accountability, and the international system must summon the will to uphold it."
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
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