In a telephone conversation on Monday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov discussed the latest developments in the region and the security implications stemming from the US-Israeli military aggression against Iran.
During the phone call, Araqchi reiterated Iran's determination to continue defending its national sovereignty and territorial integrity. He stated that any threat to attack Iran's energy infrastructure constitutes a clear instance of war crime and genocide, and warned that if such threats are carried out, Iran's response will be swift and decisive.
Araqchi pointed to the implications of the imposed war by the US and the Zionist regime on the safety and security of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, rejecting the unfounded allegations against Iran in this context.
He asserted that the insecurity in the Strait of Hormuz is a direct result of the illegal attacks by the United States and the Zionist regime against Iran, calling on the international community to hold those two regimes accountable for their violations of law and crimes committed.
The Iranian foreign minister expressed strong regret over the approach of some countries, including Bahrain, in aligning with US policy in using the Security Council to exert pressure on Iran. He stated that the resolution dated March 11 was a blatant distortion of realities, as it blamed Iran instead of holding the aggressors accountable.
Araqchi also condemned the US’ move alongside a number of its allies to propose a similar resolution in the UN Security Council and emphasized that the member states of the Security Council, particularly Russia and China, along with other countries that value the principles of the UN Charter and international law, are expected to prevent the US from exploiting the Security Council to complicate the situation while committing crimes against Iran.
For his part, Lavrov condemned the illegal attacks by the US and Israel against the Islamic Republic of Iran.
He highlighted the strong relations between Moscow and Tehran, saying Russia consistently strives to work in international forums to uphold international law and prevent the erosion of the rule of law in international relations.
The US and the Israeli regime launched a large-scale unprovoked military campaign against Iran following the assassination of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, along with several senior military commanders and civilians on February 28.
The attacks have involved extensive aerial strikes on both military and civilian locations across Iran, causing significant casualties and widespread damage to infrastructure.
In response, the Iranian Armed Forces have carried out retaliatory operations, targeting American and Israeli positions in the occupied territories and at regional bases with waves of missiles and drones.