The Iranian ambassador to Turkey has issued a warning of a prompt and comprehensive response to any further acts of aggression by Israel, while emphasizing that Tehran does not seek to escalate tensions in the region. Mohammad Hassan Habibollah Zadeh made the remarks in an interview on April 17, addressing the recent attack on Iran’s embassy in Damascus, Syria.

The ambassador condemned the April 1 attack on the diplomatic mission as a grave breach of international law and a violation of the United Nations Charter, specifically citing Article 2(4), which protects the inviolability of embassies. He described the incident as a “strong violation” and called it an act of terrorism by the “Zionist regime.”

Tehran initially pursued diplomatic and legal avenues to address the attack, Habibollah Zadeh said, appealing to the UN Security Council to condemn the assault and take measures to hold those responsible accountable. However, he criticized the inaction of the Security Council, attributing it to the influence of the three Western permanent members, whose positions, according to the ambassador, enabled Israel to flout fundamental principles of international law.

The ambassador also highlighted the ongoing violence in the Gaza Strip, which he said has persisted for seven months without any effective international intervention to halt Israeli actions against Palestinians. In response to what he described as the Security Council’s failure to condemn Israel, Iran, he asserted, exercised its right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter by taking punitive measures against Israel.

Despite stating that Iran has shown restraint, Habibollah Zadeh expressed that Tehran reached a point where it was compelled to respond decisively, indicating that Israel must face consequences for its policies and actions, which he characterized as attempts to maintain power and evade justice by escalating the conflict.

The remarks come amid heightened regional tensions following the embassy attack and ongoing hostilities in Gaza. Iran’s statements underscore the deepening rift between Tehran and Jerusalem, as well as the broader international community’s challenges in addressing the conflict.