2024-04-23 08:36:10
Tehran: Iran’s Ambassador to India Iraj Elahi has said that India can play an important role in stopping Israel’s operations in Gaza. He said Iran would welcome any mediation role by India to bring peace and stability in the region. Ilahi said that Iran has given complete information to India about the air attack on Israel last week. Its main purpose, he said, was to “deter Israel” and demonstrate “the potential cost of crossing red lines.” The ambassador also claimed that both objectives had been achieved. The White House described Iran’s April 13 attack, which sent about 350 drones and missiles against Israeli targets, as a “shameful failure”, as more than 90% had already been shot down by the US, Israel and Jordan.
Israel understood Iran’s capability
In a written reply to The Hindu, the Iranian ambassador said, “This is what Israel and the West say. But the reality is different and the Israeli regime understood what Iran’s missile capability is. Every operation has its own objective. The main objective of the operation was to deter Israel and warn them about the dangerous consequences of their reckless actions.” He said the operations had “proved” that all “important military bases” of the Israeli Defense Forces would be “easily accessible” if Iran decided to use “more developed weapons”.
Iran said- our reaction is valid
Iran has said its strikes were a “legitimate” response to the Israeli bombing of the Iranian embassy building in Damascus on April 1, which killed seven military advisers, including a senior Iranian general. Iranian Ambassador Elahi described the Israeli attack as a violation of the Vienna Convention and other conventions on the protection of diplomats. The Indian External Affairs Ministry’s response to both the Israeli attack and Iran’s counter-attack has been seen as neutral, with no direct condemnation of either country, but expressing serious concerns about the escalating tensions in the region. .
Demand for criticism of Israeli attack on Gaza
Ilahi said, “I cannot speak for the Indian government. Every country has its own situation in such situations. But it is certain that attacking diplomatic places is prohibited as per international conventions.” He said India should condemn the Israeli action in Gaza in retaliation for the terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas on October 7, which killed more than 1,200 Israelis and took dozens hostage. More than 35,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed in Israeli operations since then.
India offered to become a mediator
“We believe that India can play a very important role in stopping Israeli actions in Gaza,” Elahi said. “The Indian government can play an active role in condemning these Israeli actions,” he said. Asked whether India can play the role of a mediator in the region given its strong strategic ties with both Iran and Israel. To this, the Iranian ambassador said that his government would “welcome any action to reduce tensions and establish peace and stability in the region.”