TEHRAN- Iran on Saturday strongly condemned the U.S. military attacks on Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, saying such attacks solely serve the interests of the Zionist regime.

“The continuation of such adventures is a threat to regional and global peace and security,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said.
 Kanaani warned that such attacks with further “embroil the US government in the region more than before and overshadow the crimes of the Zionist regime in Gaza”.

Calling the attacks a “strategic mistake” and a violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq and Syria, as well as the international law and the UN Charter, the spokesman said that such attacks have no result other than the escalation of tension and instability in the region. 

The spokesman averred that the root cause of regional crisis lies in “the full support of the United States for four months of relentless and brutal attacks by the Zionist regime against the residents of Gaza and the West Bank, as well as military attacks on Yemen and violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country.” 

Kanaani reiterated Tehran’s warning over the spillover of the conflict throughout the region, warning that “continuation of such adventures are a threat to regional and international peace and security.”

He went on to add, “Iran reiterates the responsibility of the international community and the United Nations Security Council in preventing illegal and unilateral U.S. attacks in the region and the expansion of the scope of the crisis.”

He stressed, “Tehran has repeatedly stated that the root of the tension and crisis in the region is the occupation of the Israeli regime and the continuation of its military operations in Gaza and the genocide of the Palestinians with the unlimited support of the United States.” 

The ministry spokesman continued, “The return of stability and security in the region is not plausible except through focusing on the root of the crisis.” 

Sixteen people were killed, among them civilians, and 25 injured in overnight U.S. airstrikes on targets in Iraq, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani’s office said. 

Tehran says it’s ‘painful irony’ to cut UNRWA funding 
 
In a post on his X account on Friday, Kanaani also criticized the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the primary lifeline for Palestinian refugees, for a “bitter” action taken by several Western nations in cutting funds to the agency.

He said that it is a “painful irony” that those nations stopped providing funding to UNRWA in response to baseless accusations leveled by a regime that is commonly accused of committing genocide in Gaza.

He stated that at a time when the Palestinian people are facing extremely difficult conditions, the decision by those nations will be judged by the “awakened conscience” of the world.

Israel’s unsubstantiated allegation is that a few UNRWA staff members participated in the October 7 Al-Aqsa Storm Operation by Hamas, a Palestinian resistance group. Since then, Israel has killed about 27,000 civilians in Gaza.

According to the Iranian official, Israel obstructs the supply of humanitarian supplies to the Palestinian people in defiance of an International Court of Justice (ICJ) interim judgment and a resolution passed by the UN Security Council.

He also attacked the phony protestations of concern made by several nations on the genocide in Gaza and their unwillingness to cut off diplomatic ties with the Israeli regime. As per the Iranian official, several of these nations are even offering military support to the regime. 
In a joint statement, 28 aid NGOs have voiced deep concern over the decision by the United States, Britain and some other countries that have cut funds to the UNRWA.

It added, “The suspension of funding by donor states will impact life-saving assistance for over two million civilians, over half of whom are children, who rely on UNRWA aid in Gaza.”

The statement went on to note, “As aid organizations, we are deeply concerned and outraged that some of the largest donors have united to suspend funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the main aid provider for millions of Palestinians in Gaza and the region. This comes amid a rapidly worsening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.”

“We welcome UNRWA’s swift investigation into the alleged involvement of a small number of UN staff members in the October 7th attacks. We are shocked by the reckless decision to cut a lifeline for an entire population by some of the very countries that had called for aid in Gaza to be stepped up and for humanitarians to be protected while doing their job. This decision comes as the International Court of Justice ordered immediate and effective action to ensure the provision of humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza,” the statement read.  

“With approximately over one million displaced Palestinians taking shelter in or around 154 UNRWA shelters, the agency and aid organizations have continued to work in near impossible circumstances to provide food, vaccinations, and freshwater. The countries suspending funds risk further depriving Palestinians in the region of essential food, water, medical assistance and supplies, education and protection.”

Additionally, the international body continued, “We urge donor states to reaffirm support for the vital work that UNRWA and its partners do to help Palestinians survive one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes of our times. Countries must reverse these funding suspensions, uphold their duties towards the Palestinian people and scale up humanitarian assistance for civilians in dire need in Gaza and the region.”