Attack on Iranian Consulate: UN Security Council Meeting

On Tuesday, April 2, the UN Security Council will hold a public meeting at Russia’s request in connection with the attack on Monday, April 1, allegedly by the Israeli Air Force on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria. This was reported by the first deputy permanent representative of Russia to the UN, Dmitry Polyansky. “The Iranians have gone to the UN Security Council to condemn the action. After their letter, we requested an open briefing of the UN Security Council,” the Russian diplomat said.

The Israeli attack on the Islamic Republic’s embassy compound in Damascus killed 11 people, including General Mohammad Reza Zahedi, commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Syria and Lebanon, and his deputy, General Mohammad Hadi Hajj Rahimi.

Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Tehran, waving Iranian and Palestinian flags, calling for “revenge,” and chanting, “Death to America” and “Death to Israel.” Iranian leaders have vowed not to let the Israeli attack go unanswered. “Tehran’s reaction will be tough,” said Iran’s ambassador to Syria, Hossein Akbari, who was unaffected by the attack.

The United States told Iran that it was “not involved” and had “no prior knowledge” of the Israeli attack against Iranian embassy buildings in Damascus. According to the Axios news agency, citing an anonymous US official, the administration of President Joe Biden “now fears that the Israeli attack could trigger a regional escalation of the ongoing conflict in Gaza and renewed attacks by Iranian militias against US forces in the region.”

For its part, Iran said it “sent an important message” to the United States after the Israeli attack. According to Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, “an official of the Swiss Embassy, who acts as a representative of US interests in Iran, has been summoned to the Foreign Ministry. The meeting discussed the consequences of the terrorist and criminal attack attributed to the Israeli regime, emphasizing the responsibility of the United States. An important message was sent to the United States as a supporter of the Zionist regime (Israel – ed.). The United States must be held accountable.”

Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi condemned “the terrorist crime, inhumane attack, and serious violation of international norms” by the Jewish state. Several countries, including Saudi Arabia and Jordan, also condemned the attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus. A press release from the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that “the attack on the consulate constitutes a serious violation of international law and an attack on the inviolability of the diplomatic seat protected by the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.”