FM condemns US-Israeli attacks on civilian sites, calls for international action
Raids on universities demonstrate spite toward Iran’s scientific advancement: Spox
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned US and Israeli attacks on civilian infrastructure, highlighting the responsibility of all regional countries and the international community to confront the collapse of international legal norms as a result of these countries’ law-breaking and egregious crimes against humanity.
In a phone call with his Pakistani counterpart, Mohammad Ishaq Dar, on Saturday evening, Araghchi detailed the atrocities committed by the US and Israel against the Iranian people, specifically highlighting attacks on public infrastructure, schools, universities, hospitals, scientific centers, and residential areas, IRNA reported.
The conflict, initiated by the US and Israel on February 28, continues to escalate, with numerous civilian sites and public infrastructure reportedly targeted despite claims to the contrary.
The latest such attacks include strikes on the Science and Technology University and the Isfahan Industrial University.
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Esmaeil Baqaei, stated in an article that the attacks on universities demonstrate American-Israeli spite towards Iran’s scientific advancement.
“This desperate act of the enemy will, like all its previous attempts, lead nowhere, because Iranian science and knowledge are not imported, nor do they grow amidst bricks and mortar. Rather, they are an integral part of the enduring and progressive capital of an authentic civilization that has consistently benefited humanity with its achievements and innovations,” he added.
Baqaei later posted on X that these universities are just two of dozens of educational and research centers that have been targeted over the past 30 days.
He emphasized that the “nuclear program” and the “imminent threat” presented by the US and Israel as justification for the aggression are nothing more than flimsy and fabricated excuses to conceal their true intentions.
Four-nation talks on Iran conflict
During the phone conversation with Araghchi, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister reaffirmed his country’s principled stance in condemning the military aggression against Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He informed the Iranian Foreign Minister about Pakistan’s efforts to halt the conflict and expressed hope that through the commendable efforts of regional countries, an immediate cessation of hostilities and a return to security and stability in the region would be achieved.
Among these efforts is the hosting of a four-nation meeting of the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia in Islamabad.
According to the Pakistani Foreign Ministry, the talks, which will span two days, will focus on exploring practical solutions to de-escalate tensions, halt the conflict, and return the parties to the path of dialogue.
Recent developments have had a significant impact on the global economy, with rising oil prices, disruptions to energy routes, and concerns about threats to shipping in strategic chokepoints cited as consequences of the ongoing conflict.