Sobia Khan
Karachi: Iran’s Consul General in Karachi, Akbar Eisa Zadeh, has said that Iran possesses the full legal and diplomatic right to defend its national sovereignty, accusing the United States of pursuing negotiations through friendly countries while simultaneously deploying naval forces in the region.
He made these remarks while speaking to media representatives who visited the Iranian Consulate on Friday to offer condolences over the martyrdom of associates of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Allegations of Unilateral Aggression
The consul general alleged that the United States and Israel carried out a unilateral attack on Iran in violation of international laws.
According to him, the attacks resulted in the deaths of several innocent civilians, including 168 children.
Responding to a question, Zadeh said it was the second time Iran had been subjected to a surprise attack. He stressed that Iran would continue the war until its objectives were achieved, adding that Tehran considered it within its rights to target American and Israeli assets wherever they exist.
Criticism of United Nations and Muslim Countries
The Iranian diplomat further alleged that both the United States and Israel had targeted civilians during the conflict. He criticised the United Nations for what he described as silence over the aggression.
He also expressed disappointment over the response of Muslim countries, saying they were failing to fulfil their responsibilities at a critical moment.
“The enemy’s objective is to divide the Muslim world, but Muslim countries should demonstrate unity and solidarity,” he said.
‘Media Narrative Captured’
Responding to another question, Zadeh said the conflict had been ongoing for eight days, claiming that the United States and Israel had effectively “captured the media narrative.”
He accused former US president Donald Trump of spreading negative propaganda by claiming that Iran had been destroyed. According to Zadeh, public morale in Iran remained high and daily life across the country continued as normal.
Appreciation for Pakistan’s Support
The consul general also appreciated Pakistan for supporting Iran’s stance and condemning the alleged aggression.
He thanked Pakistani religious scholars and people from different walks of life who had expressed solidarity with Iran, adding that rallies held in Pakistan had boosted the morale of the Iranian people.
Response on Israeli Parliament Reports
When asked about reports of an attack on the Israeli parliament building, the consul general said he had heard about the incident but did not have confirmation regarding the extent of the damage.
