Why it matters:
Iran’s statement comes at a time of unprecedented genocide in Gaza and rising international condemnation of the Israeli regime's brutal campaign.
Iran's Foreign Ministry statement aims to increase global pressure on Western states, particularly the U.S. and the UK, for enabling Israel to commit systematic war crimes.
The big picture:
The statement, issued on May 15, the anniversary of the Israeli regime's self-proclamation establishment in 1948, calls the Nakba Day, the beginning of an 80-year colonial campaign to erase the Palestinian people.
Iran says the Israeli regime has been committing war crimes and genocide with full impunity, supported by Western powers, and demands international legal action against Israeli leaders.
What it's saying:
Iran's Foreign Ministry statement says the Israeli regime has been committing decades-long atrocities, including displacement, starvation, and mass killings, particularly of women and children.
The statement calls Washington a “partner in genocide,” blaming it for shielding the regime from accountability at the UN and international courts.
Tehran urges all countries to fulfill their legal and moral obligations under the UN Charter and the Geneva Conventions to stop the bloodshed.
Iran reiterates its position that a just resolution requires the end of occupation, the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, and the right of return for refugees.
“May 15, 1948, marks the beginning of the largest human tragedy in modern history with the founding of an illegitimate regime.”
“Over 750,000 Palestinians were displaced, and more than 530 towns and villages were destroyed.”
“In the last two years, the Zionist regime has escalated its genocidal campaign, starving and bombing civilians in Gaza while violating all humanitarian norms.”
“These actions meet the criteria of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide as defined under the Genocide Convention.”
“Due to U.S. obstruction and political pressure, international courts have failed to act.”
Key points:
- Nakba Day, commemorated annually on May 15th, marks the Palestinian Catastrophe. This event, stemming from the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, involved the mass displacement and dispossession of Palestinians. It signifies the destruction of Palestinian society and their identity.
Go deeper:
Nakba Day, meaning “Day of Catastrophe,” is marked annually by Palestinians to commemorate their mass displacement following the Israeli regime’s self-proclamation. Iran’s alignment with Palestinian resistance is central to its foreign policy. By invoking legal frameworks such as the Genocide Convention and the Geneva Conventions, Tehran says the conflict is not just a political crisis but a test of global justice.
Mojtaba Darabi
