While emphasising that Israel’s “false and unsubstantiated claims” deserved “no real response”, Ambassador Amir Saed Iravani reiterated Iran’s consistent position that it does not seek escalation or war in the region, according to the UN.

At the UN Security Council, he said, “Iran’s operation was entirely in the exercise of Iran’s inherent right to self-defence. This concluded action was necessary and proportionate.”

Yet, it was regrettable, he said, that certain UNSC members, including the US, the UK, and France had chosen to “turn a blind eye to reality” and overlook the root causes contributing to the current situation.

“In hypocritical behaviour, these three countries falsely blamed and accused Iran without considering their own failures to uphold their international commitments to peace and security in the region,” said Ambassador Iravani, calling out what he saw as “lies and disinformation” being used to discredit Iran’s right to self-defence.