Farajvand made his remarks in an interview with Dutch broadcaster Ongehoord Nederland two weeks after the 12-day war that began with Israel’s airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities and civilian regions on June 13th.
Iran responded strongly, using ballistic missiles and drones to surprise various locations throughout the Israeli occupation area. The military also launched a missile strike at a US Air Force Base in Qatar on June 23, after Washington entered the war directly and bombed three major Iranian nuclear sites a day ago.
Emphasizing the diplomatic significance of the Hague, Farajvand has gained a reputation as the global capital of international law, pointing out that the city is home to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Considering this role, he argued that the Netherlands should have explicitly condemned the US-Israel aggression.
Farajvand noted that the attack occurred while Iran was engaged in indirect negotiations with the US over the nuclear program. He said the attack was a diplomatic “betrayal” and evidence of a lack of commitment to the US negotiations.
The envoy pointed to the confirmation by the UN Nuclear Watch Agency that the Iranian nuclear watchdog is not recorded in Iran’s nuclear activity, and reiterated Iran’s stance that the nuclear program is peaceful.
He argued that strikes at Iran’s nuclear facilities under the pretext of arms development constituted unfair attacks that lacked legal grounds and international legitimacy.
Therefore, he emphasized that under the pretext of Iran’s desire for nuclear weapons, the US and Israeli attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities constitute a clear act of attack that lacks legal grounds or international legitimacy.
Iran’s response was implemented in line with Article 51 of the UN Charter, which allows for self-defense, Faraivand said.
MNA/IRN