Gharibabadi to ICRC president: Zionist regime primarily targeted civilians during its military aggression

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi who is in New York to hold political consultations and participate in two high-level UN Security Council meetings on Monday met with President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Ms. Mirjana Spoljaric Egger at the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the world body.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi, who is in New York to hold political consultations and participate in two high-level UN Security Council meetings, on Monday met with President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Ms. Mirjana Spoljaric Egger at the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the world body. 

 

In the meeting, Gharibabadi strongly rejected the Zionist regime’s claim of “self-defense” regarding its recent military aggression against Iran, calling it a blatant lie. He added that the Israeli aggression was contrary to the UN Charter and lacked any legal or international legitimacy. 

 

Gharibabadi underlined that during the attack, which resulted in the martyrdom and injury of nearly 7,000 Iranian citizens, most of whom were civilians, the occupying regime violated all established principles and norms of international law. 

 

The deputy foreign minister also pointed to the widespread condemnation of this criminal act by the international community, saying unfortunately, the UN Security Council has failed to respond in the slightest to the Israeli aggression due to obstruction by some of its permanent members. 

 

Also in the meeting, Ms. Spoljaric Egger extended her sympathies to the families of the civilian martyrs in Iran and stressed the importance of expanding bilateral engagement with the Islamic Republic. Referring to the good relations between the ICRC and the Iranian Red Crescent Society, Ms. Egger noted that some medical aid has already been sent to Iran. 

 

At the end of the meeting, Gharibabadi welcomed the expansion of bilateral cooperation between Iran and the ICRC and expressed hope that the next meeting between the two sides will be held in Tehran.