TEHRAN- According to Iran’s UN envoy, Tehran has the inherent and lawful right to respond forcefully to the Israeli regime, which martyred an Iranian military adviser in a recent strike on Syria, at any time it considers necessary.

Amir Saied Iravani called on the UNSC to uphold its charter obligation in the maintenance of international peace and security in a letter to the UN secretary-general and president of the UN Security Council on Tuesday. 

He also strongly condemned the actions of the Israeli regime, which are a serious threat to regional and global peace and security, as well as its malicious activities.

His message was sent following the martyrdom of General Seyed Razi Mousavi, an Islamic Revolution Guards Corps member, in an Israeli bombardment on Monday in the residential area of Zeinabiyah district in the outskirts of Damascus while acting as a military advisor in Syria.

What follows is the text of the UN envoy’s letter:

Upon instructions from my Government, I am writing to urgently bring to your attention the alarming and recurrent terrorist attacks carried out by the Israeli regime within the Syrian Arab Republic. Simultaneously with its persistent atrocious crimes and internationally wrongful acts, the Israeli regime actively engages in acts of terrorism and aggression within Syrian borders. These deliberate actions have specifically targeted Iranian military advisors who are legally present at the formal request of the Syrian Arab Republic, supporting and assisting in the fight against terrorism.

At 4:20 pm on Monday 25 December 2023, Seyed Razi Mousavi, a senior military advisor who was on a mission supporting the Syrian Army in its anti-terrorism efforts near Damascus, was tragically martyred by three missiles fired from the Israeli regime's positions in the occupied Golan Heights. This heinous and terrorist act represents the second assault on Iranian advisors this month, following a strikingly similar attack perpetrated by the Israeli regime on 2 December 2023. Tragically, this earlier attack led to the martyrdom of two Iranian military advisors, Mohammad Ali Ataee Shoorche and Panah Taqizadeh.

The Islamic Republic of Iran unequivocally condemns these heinous and cowardly acts of terrorism perpetrated by the Israeli regime. Iran reserves its legitimate and inherent right, under international law and the United Nations Charter, to respond decisively at an appropriate time deemed necessary. Iran also reaffirms the inherent right of the Syrian Arab Republic, under international law, to take all necessary measures in response to terrorist attacks and acts of aggression by the Israeli regime against its sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.

Undeniably, the Israeli regime bears responsibility for the tragic loss of innocent lives of Iranian military advisors as well as for its atrocities against civilians and civilian infrastructure in the Syrian Arab Republic. Iran undoubtedly holds this regime accountable for such heinous crimes.

The Islamic Republic of Iran calls on the UN Security Council to fulfill its charter obligation in the maintenance of international peace and security and strongly condemn the Israeli regime's malevolent activities and its acts of aggression and terrorism in the region, which pose a serious threat to global peace and security. This regime must be compelled to comply with international law and abandon its destabilizing activities in the region.

I should be grateful if you would circulate the present letter as a document of the Security Council.