Iran urges intl. bodies to hold Israel accountable over abduction of 4 diplomats
Iran has called on international organizations to hold Israel accountable for the fate of four Iranian diplomats kidnapped in Lebanon in 1982 and pave the way for punishing the perpetrators of the crime.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry expressed sympathy with the families of its missing diplomats in a statement on Wednesday, commemorating the 41st anniversary of their abduction.
“Based on the 1949 Geneva Conventions…, the Islamic Republic of Iran holds the Zionist regime and its supporters responsible for all aspects of the kidnapping and the terrorist act given the fact that the incident took place during the occupation of Lebanon by Israel.”
Iran also “requests relevant international and human rights organizations to accept their legal and humanitarian responsibilities in this regard, take necessary measures to exert pressure on the Zionist regime, … ensure its maximum cooperation towards shedding light on the fate of our loved ones, and provide the grounds for punishing those behind the crime and the violation of international law.”
On July 4, 1982, the year Israel invaded Lebanon, Ahmad Motevasselian, Seyyed Mohsen Mousavi, Taqi Rastegar Moqaddam and Kazem Akhavan were kidnapped by a group of Israel-backed gunmen at an inspection post in northern Lebanon.
Iran says the diplomats were abducted by Phalange militiamen and handed over to Israel.
In the past years, there were conflicting reports about their fate. While some claimed they had been killed by the militia group, others believed they were still alive, languishing in Israeli jails.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry expressed dismay that despite the extensive political and legal efforts by the Lebanese government and international rights bodies, the attempts aimed at determining the fate of the four diplomats have been “inconclusive.”
It further blamed the failed pursuit on “the irresponsibility of the Zionist regime and those behind the kidnapping, the loss of many evidence and documents with the passage of time, and the lack of a serious and effective action by relevant international organizations.”
Iran, it added, expects the friendly and brotherly Lebanese government to keep up its efforts, both domestically and internationally, to help discover the fate of the missing diplomats.
The ministry also reiterated that it will diligently continue its moves meant to follow up on the issue until the fate of its kidnapped diplomats is determined.
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