Tehran: Tehran has urged Nicosia to assume an active role in influencing European nations towards ending Israel’s “brutal attacks” during a telephone conversation on Friday between Cyprus’ Minister of Foreign Affairs, Constantinos Kombos, and his Iranian counterpart, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, as stated in an official announcement by the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Kombos appealed for restraint and the utilization of diplomacy to prevent further escalation in the region.
Araghchi, in turn, voiced strong displeasure over what he termed Israeli “crimes and attacks” on Iranian nuclear facilities and the resulting loss of civilian and academic lives. The announcement further noted his declaration that Iran would issue a “firm response” to such aggressions, emphasizing his nation’s resolve to protect its sovereignty, people, and national security. He also affirmed Iran’s intention to pursue accountability for these actions through the appropriate international bodies.
The Iranian Foreign Minister “called on the Cyprus government to take active steps to influence European countries” in an effort to curtail Israeli operations, calling them “brutal attacks.”
Moreover, a separate communiqu© from the Iranian Foreign Ministry says that Araghchi dispatched a letter to the Presidency of the UN Security Council and the UN Secretary-General. This followed Israeli military operations targeting diverse sites within Iran-encompassing military bases, nuclear installations, and residential zones-which reportedly led to fatalities and injuries among military commanders, university academics, and civilians.
Within the letter, Tehran described the Israeli military action as tantamount to a “declaration of war” against the Islamic Republic of Iran, calling for the Security Council’s urgent consideration. The correspondence stressed that the Israeli assaults represented a “flagrant violation” of Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity as an independent UN member state and constituted an “overt act of aggression.” Furthermore, Iran reiterated its resolve to exercise its right to self-defense under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.