TEHRAN- Israel’s latest strikes on Syria and Lebanon, according to Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, are an attempt to deflect attention away from the regime’s “disgraceful defeat” in the Gaza conflict.

Amir Abdollahian criticized the unlawful Israeli bombings, which have intensified over the past several months, as a “vicious attempt” by the occupying entity to promote regional instability during a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in New York on Monday.

The senior Iranian diplomat emphasized the oppressed people of Gaza’s perseverance over the course of more than 100 days, as well as Israel’s inability to fulfill its proclaimed aims during the murderous assault on the besieged Palestinian territories.

“The Zionist regime’s recent acts of aggression against Syria and Lebanon are an attempt to divert the attention of the international community from the regime’s disgraceful defeat as well as its frustration and helplessness in the battlefield. They are also viciously attempt to spread instability and insecurity in the region,” he added.

The Iranian foreign minister asked Russia to take a more active role in ending the Gaza war, citing Russia’s permanent membership in the UNSC.

Along with expressing pleasure with the advancement of ties between Iran and Russia, he also expressed optimism that during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s next visit to Tehran, the two nations will sign an agreement for long-term collaboration.

For his part, Lavrov expressed satisfaction with bilateral ties and emphasized the implementation of the agreements already signed.

He also chastised the United States for obstructing a UN Security Council resolution on the Gaza truce and called on Arab countries to work together on the Palestinian issue.

Amir Abdollahian also posted on social media on Tuesday, “The martyrdom of more than 25,000 Palestinians, the wounding of tens of thousands and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza and the West Bank, as well as the expansion of regional instability, are the result of the genocide by the Israeli regime and its supporters.”

In a separate meeting with Lebanon’s Foreign Minister, Abdallah Bou Habib, the Iranian foreign minister lambasted the horrors of the Zionist regime as a blatant example of war crimes, genocide, and crime against humanity. 

Additionally, he reaffirmed Iran’s support for Lebanon’s stability and security, stating that these factors will impact regional security as a whole.

Amir Abdollahian also conferred with Geir O. Pedersen, the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General for Syria.

In addition to calling for united action in the fight against terrorism, Amir Abdollahian emphasized the necessity of the international community making genuine measures to stop the Israeli regime’s violations of Syria’s territorial integrity.

For his part, Pedersen praised Iran for its positive contributions to the fight against terrorism and the resolution of the Syrian issues.

He also lamented the negative and damaging consequences on regional peace initiatives induced by the ongoing situation in Gaza and Palestine.

Amir Abdollahian has travelled to New York to attend a UN Security Council (UNSC) meeting on “the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.”

Upon his arrival in New York, he noted that Tehran has sternly notified the United States that their choice to launch joint strikes on targets in Yemen with the United Kingdom is “a strategic mistake.”

“We sent out a strongly-worded message and stern warning to Americans. The decision by the United States and the United Kingdom to jointly attack areas in Yemen poses threats to regional peace and security, and expands the scope of Gaza war,” he added.

The foreign minister of Iran pointed out that satellite photos indicate that over 230 oil tankers and trade ships were cruising in the Red Sea when the United States and the United Kingdom launched their operations against Yemen.

He continued, “This means that Americans and Britons have well understood Yemenis’ point that only ships heading towards ports operated by the occupying Israeli regime will be blocked.” 

In a letter to the United Nations Security Council on Monday, Amir Abdollahian warned that the Zionist regime of Israel “must face the consequences” of assassinating the Iranian military advisors in Syria.

“This regime must be forced to set aside its destabilizing behavior,” Amir Abdollahian insisted.

In a part of his letter, Abdollahian said the Israeli regime’s “illegal resort to force and military provocations will seriously jeopardize peace and security in the region and the world.”

He added, “The Islamic Republic of Iran unequivocally and strongly condemns this heinous and cowardly terrorist act which is done with the purpose of deflecting attention from the crimes of the Zionist regime against the people of Gaza, especially in Gaza.”

The minister said Iran is legally entitled to respond to these crimes.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran, based on international law and the UN Charter, keeps the right to give decisive and proper response to these actions in proper time and place.”