Tehran urges IAEA to act professionally, avoid politicization

Referring to the martyrdom of Seyyed Razi Mousavi, an Iranian anti-terror adviser who was assassinated in an Israeli missile strike in the suburbs of Damascus,   the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said, "The Zionist regime will not have any strategic achievements by committing such criminal actions."

Regarding the arrival of New Year's eve and the continuous crimes of the Tel Aviv regime, Kan'ani said that it is regrettable that the Zionist regime did not stop its evil and adventurous actions against the Palestinian nation under the support of the United States.

He also called on the international community to fulfill their human responsibilities in supporting the Palestinian nation and preventing the killing machine of the Zionist regime.

These actions are a violation of international law and the United Nations Charter as well as a breach of Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity, which is condemned and can be pursued legally, Kan'ani said.

Such measures are a threat to international peace and security, he said adding that the Zionist regime is used to spreading its internal crises beyond the borders of the occupied territories by trying to expand insecurity in the region.

He urged the United Nations Security Council to fulfill its responsibility against the wicked behavior of the Zionist regime.

The spokesperson also pointed out the martyrdom anniversary of Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, noting that the Islamic Republic seriously follows up the probe into the crime committed by the US regime regarding the assassination of Martyr Soleimani; so, the issue will never be forgotten and the passage of time will not lessen the significance of the criminal case.

At the domestic level, the legal and criminal dimensions of the assassination are being pursued against the United States, and at the international arena, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs follows up it based on a 1973 UN convention, he said, adding that Tehran takes significant measures in this respect.

According to the spokesman, along with legal follow-ups for the crime committed by the United States, official notes have also been conveyed to the Swiss Embassy in Tehran, which represents US interests in Iran.

Kan'ani also mentioned that if there is a fair criminal court, the assassination case should be definitely considered a matter of international crime, and the commander in charge of the assassination must be pursued and brought to justice. However, whatever the case may be, the US administration has illegitimately utilized its influence in international entities, he said.

Iran is of the opinion that Martyr Soleimani was one of the figures, who enjoyed international support, and he traveled to Iraq on an official invitation; therefore, his case falls under the provisions of international conventions.

On Iran coop. with IAEA

Elsewhere in his remarks, Kan'ani emphasized the cooperation between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency and said, "The agency and its director general should follow their professional actions and avoid Politicisation."

“Making new claims (by the IAEA) is not constructive because Iran’s activities are peaceful and under supervision. The Agency and its secretary general are expected to continue their professional activities and avoid political measures,” he said.

It came after the UN nuclear watchdog notified its members about an increase in the rate at which Iran has been enriching uranium at two of its nuclear facilities since the end of November, which Iran rejected as a baseless claim.

Iran-Russia relations

Asked about Iran’s relations with Russia and the latter’s stance on the Gaza war, Kan'ani said the Tehran-Moscow ties are expanding based on the Raisi administration’s good neighborliness policy.

“The existence of extensive relations in various fields does not mean that two countries agree on all international issues,” he said, arguing that it is natural to have different views on issues as long as relations are based on mutual respect and acceptance of differences of opinion.

He also said Tehran has already declared its position regarding the issue of the three Iranian islands.

“Therefore, the developing relations between the two countries do not prevent us from expressing our positions in controversial cases,” the Foreign Ministry spokesman added.