Iran censures UNSC’s ‘inexcusable silence’ after Shiraz terror attack

Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has sent a letter to the United Nations, slamming the “inexcusable silence” of the UN Security Council in the face of an October 26 terrorist attack in Shiraz, where over a dozen pilgrims were heinously killed.

In a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the text of which was published on Friday, the Iranian minister censured the failure of the Security Council in condemning the terrorist attack.

Reminding the UNSC of its responsibility for maintaining peace and security, the minister said it was “expected” from the body to “strongly condemn the terrorist attack in Shiraz and call for the accountability and prosecution of those responsible for such heinous crime” as part of its “established practices” and given that it has “repeatedly constituted terrorism as one of the most serious threats to international peace and security.”

“Nonetheless, the Security Council's inexcusable silence in the face of this crime demonstrated that certain powers, who are also permanent members of the Security Council, continue to categorize terrorists as either good or bad, and not only use ISIS as a tool to exert pressure on other nations to further their own narrow political agendas, but also their discriminatory and irresponsible actions make it more difficult for the Security Council to effectively carry out its mandate in combating international terrorism.”

Iranians attend huge funeral for victims of terror attack in Shiraz

Tens of thousands of people have taken part in the funeral procession of the victims of a terrorist attack on the holy shrine of Shah Cheragh in Iran’s southern city of Shiraz.

The Iranian minister appreciated the “timely” condemnation of the terrorist attack by Guterres and his spokesperson, noting that Tehran views “this responsible action as a significant and encouraging step in taking the United Nations towards a consistent and non-discriminatory approach to combat terrorism.”

A heavily-armed terrorist assaulted the well-known shrine at approximately 5:45 p.m. local time (1415 GMT) on that October day, just before the evening prayers, killing more than a dozen pilgrims — including a lady and two children — and injuring at least 40 others. The attacker opened fire indiscriminately on visitors within the shrine, according to the police commander of Fars province. The perpetrator was wounded and taken into custody by security personnel. He later succumbed to his wounds. Shortly afterward, the Daesh Takfiri terror group claimed responsibility for the attack.

As a victim of terrorism, Amir-Abdollahian said, Iran is determined in “its efforts in the fight against terrorism, both to protect the security of the region's nations and the honorable and great nation of Iran from the dangers posed by such terrorist groups.”

The Shiraz terrorist attack proved “the significance of the bravery of” Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani in fighting terrorism and the importance of maintaining “ongoing, successful efforts in the region to eradicate terrorism,” said the minister, reminding the international community that “its sensitivity and vigilance toward terrorist threats should not be compromised.”

While the UNSC failed to condemn the terrorist attack, it held an unofficial meeting at the request of the US and Albania to discuss recent riots in Iran, a move that the Iranian Foreign Ministry described as "a clear example of the abuse of international mechanisms by the American government for its illegal purposes and meddling in internal affairs of other states.”

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