Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian says drone and missile attacks carried out by the Iranian Armed Forces last week against the Israeli regime “redefined the balance of power in the West Asia region.”
In a letter addressed to senior commanders of the Iranian Armed Forces on Monday, Amir-Abdollahian said that Operation True Promise, which was carried out by Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) in coordination with the Iranian Army and Chief of Staff, was a show of deterrence from the Iranian Armed Forces.
“The victorious True Promise Operation created more capacities for the Iranian diplomatic apparatus in the field of regional and international relations while it boosted the sense of patriotism and national pride among the entire people of the Islamic Iran,” he said in the message.
IRGC’s Aerospace Force launched more than 300 drones and missiles on targets in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories in the early hours of Sunday.
The attack was meant to punish the Israeli regime for an airstrike carried out in early April on the Iranian consulate in Syria which killed senior IRGC commanders.
Amir-Abdollahian said the IRGC operation was in compliance with international law and regulations and was in line with Iran’s right to legitimate defense.
He said the complicated military operation was also a response to “evil measures” of the Israeli regime in the region, adding that it would accelerate the collapse of the fake system run by the Zionists.
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Bricsik the leopard has been chosen as the mascot of the BRICS Games to be held in Kazan from 11 to 24 June. The presentation of the event took place in Moscow at the forum “We are together: Sport” during the round table “Sport in the BRICS countries. Development of a multipolar sports world”.
“Bricsik was born in Asia, just like the first BRICS Games, and then grew and developed with the tournament. His name symbolises agility, strength, speed and toughness of character. These are the qualities that true champions possess,” reads a statement on the official website of the Games.
Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matitsyn, who was present at the roundtable, noted that all BRICS countries have confirmed their participation in the Games.
He said that athletes from more than 50 countries will take part in the Games.
“During the business programme of the competitions, we propose to sign the Kazan Charter for the development of the project of international competitions of the commonwealth member countries,” the minister added.
Vladimir Leonov, Minister of Sports of the Republic of Tatarstan, noted that the Games will be held at 18 venues and Kazan has all the necessary infrastructure for the event.
“The venues have already been built, in the past they have been used for international and All-Russian competitions. This is the first time the BRICS Games will be held in this format,” Leonov said.
The BRICS Games is an international sporting event that brings together the countries of the association (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Ethiopia, Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt), as well as the group’s partners.
The competition has been organized since 2016. In 2024, the Games will be held from 11 to 23 June in Kazan.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian says Israel will receive an immediate and extensive response if it continues its adventurous acts against the Islamic Republic.
In a phone conversation with his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock on Monday, Amir-Abdollahian said Iran seeks to give a warning to Israel about the repercussions of crossing the red lines.
Pointing to Iran’s retaliatory strikes against the occupied territories, he added that Tehran has carried out a “minimum and precise” operation against the regime’s military sites from which the Iranian embassy in the Syrian capital of Damascus was attacked.
The top Iranian diplomat criticized Germany for its pro-Israel stance and expressed hope that instead of condemning Iran’s legitimate self-defense move, Berlin would focus on ways to help end the ongoing war in Gaza and establish endurable peace and security in the are spanning the Mediterranean to the Red Sea.
The Israeli airstrikes on Iran’s embassy compound in Damascus killed two generals of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi and General Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi, as well as five of their accompanying officers.
In response, on Saturday night, the IRGC targeted the Israeli-occupied territories with a barrage of drones and missiles. The series of retaliatory strikes, dubbed Operation True Promise, inflicted damage on Israeli military bases across the occupied territories.
The extent of the damage on Israeli military bases across the occupied territories is yet to be specified.
However, informed sources told Press TV that all the hypersonic missiles used in Iran’s punitive strikes against Israel hit their targets after evading the regime’s air defense systems.
Following the reprisal, Iran warned Israel against taking any retaliatory actions and also urged the US to try not to involve itself in the conflict and signaled that it viewed the matter as “concluded.”
The German foreign minister, for her part, said Tehran and Berlin should hold more consultations on various issues and added that joint efforts must be focused on preventing further escalation of tensions.
Baerbock added that Germany is making efforts to put an end to Israel’s war in Gaza and pave the way for achieving sustainable peace.
Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza began on October 7 in the aftermath of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas’s Operation Al-Aqsa Storm. It has so far killed at least 33,797 people, mostly children and women, and wounded 76,465 others with thousands more presumed dead under the rubble.
Iran expected UNSC to condemn Israel’s attack in Syria: Amir-Abdollahian
In a phone call with Slovenia’s Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon on Monday, Amir-Abdollahian said Iran expected the United Nations Security Council to denounce Israel’s missile attacks on Iran’s diplomatic sites in Damascus.
However, he added, the United States and two European countries prevented the approval of at least a statement in condemnation of Israel’s blatant act of aggression.
Therefore, Iran carried out a planned operation within the framework of its legitimate right of self-defense, he emphasized.
The combo photo shows Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian (R) and his Slovenian counterpart Tanja Fajon. (Photo by Iran’s Foreign Ministry)
The Slovenian foreign minister said Iran has always made efforts to prevent the escalation of tensions in the region.
Fajon added that her country would continue attempts to help establish sustainable peace in Gaza and send humanitarian aid to the war-ravaged Strip.
Speaking on Monday, the French leader said he was confident the planned ceremony, based on the River Seine, would go ahead but that France had “plan Bs, and even plan Cs” just in case, Sky News reported.
The 26 July event is set to be the first Olympic opening ceremony held outside a stadium setting and will see about 10,500 athletes parade through the heart of the French capital of Parison some 160 boats on the Seine along a 3.7-mile route.
However, with conflict in West Asia and Russia’s attack on Ukraine combined with the threat of terror attacks, the French government has raised the security level to its highest level.
This has led to Macron conceding that, if security demands necessitated, the Paris 2024 opening ceremony could be altered, or even scaled down.
He said France was not naïve, adding, “If we think there are security risks we’ll have plan Bs, and even plan Cs.”
Telugu Taringini, a Telugu expatriate community organization in the Emirates organized the event that witnessed participants from across the UAE.
Published Date – 15 April 2024, 07:13 PM
Jeddah: The Telugu NRI community living in the UAE celebrated Ugadi with pomp and spiritual fervour in Ras Al Khaimah recently.
Telugu Taringini, a Telugu expatriate community organization in the Emirates organized the event that witnessed participants from across the UAE.
Predictions from Panchangam, an astrological almanac, were read out by Dubai-based priest Mukund Koushik.
The traditional dish of Pacchadi was prepared by women and distributed to the participants.
“We have been conducting Ugadi and other major Telugu festival for a decade now in Ras Al Khaima,” said V. Venkata Suresh, president of Telugu Tarangini. He expressed gratitude towards the ruler of Ras Al Khaimah for allowing and supporting ethnic diversity and cultural activities with the spirit of tolerance.
Suresh briefed the Telugu Tarangini activities in cultural and community welfare fronts. Mirza Gulzar Baig narrated about Ramadan Eid as it coincided with it.
A cultural performance by a Telugu women’s group led by Vimala Florence mesmerized the audience. The event was anchored by Surekha Patnam. Sampangi Ramesh, Anuradha, Srinivas Rao among others spoke at the event
Police say one man has been arrested and he is helping them with their inquiries.
The attack occurred at Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley.
Graphic video uploaded to social media on Monday night shows Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel standing at the altar of the church and speaking to parishioners as a man wearing a black jumper walks towards him and pulls out an implement.
As horrified churchgoers scream, the man stabs the priest in the chest. The priest then falls to the floor and is stabbed a further five times as a group of churchgoers rush towards him and manage to separate the alleged assailant from the priest.
Video taken in the aftermath of the stabbing show the bishop on the floor with as parishioners hold bandages against his head.
The episode was livestreamed.
Four people were injured in the attack – a man in his fifties was taken to Liverpool Hospital with multiple lacerations, as was a man in his thirties.
NSW Ambulance were treating a man in his twenties with lacerations to his hand and a man in his sixties with lacerations to his arm at the scene on Monday evening.
The Iranian Army Chief Commander Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi says the country will not hesitate to give a “stormy and unified” response to any act of aggression against it.
In a Monday message marking the National Army Day, Mousavi said great defensive measures of the country’s Army and Armed Forces have resulted in strong deterrent power.
Iran has conveyed its message of power to the world in a way that the world has realized that the Iranian Armed Forces will give a “stormy and unified” response to any aggression against the country’s national interests, borders and security, he added.
The top commander noted that Iran’s firm response to an act of aggression by the usurping Israeli enemy against its diplomatic premises in the Syrian capital of Damascus brought joy to oppressed nations, especially the resilient people of Palestine and Gaza.
Mousavi emphasized that the retaliatory strikes, dubbed Operation True Promise, revealed only a part of the capacity and strong will of the Iranian Armed Forces and were carried out in cooperation among the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Division, the Army, and the Defense Ministry.
He said the Army has played a key role in strengthening the country’s defense power, independence and lasting security by implementing various measures.
It has constructed strategic drone and underground tactical bases and made hundreds of modern defense achievements in the land, air, sea and space sectors in addition to advancing in the fields of science and technology, he explained.
Now the enemies lack the courage to carry out any act of aggression against the Islamic establishment and the noble Iranian nation, the top commander said.
He added that Iran has staged several joint military drills to enhance national security and dignity.
The Israeli airstrikes on Iran’s embassy compound in Damascus killed two generals of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi and General Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi, as well as five of their accompanying officers.
In response, on Saturday night, the IRGC targeted the Israeli-occupied territories with a barrage of drones and missiles. The extent of the damage on Israeli military bases across the occupied territories is yet to be specified.
Following the reprisal, Iran warned Israel against taking any retaliatory actions and also urged the US to try not to involve itself in the conflict and signaled that it viewed the matter as “concluded.”
In a telephone conversation with his German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock on Monday, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian described the powerful operation carried out by the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran against the Zionist regime on Saturday night as a “least” but “precise” operation against the regime’s military centers which was a retaliatory attack for the earlier attack by the Tel Aviv regime on Iran’s consulate in Damascus.
The Iranian foreign minister condemned Germany’s support for the Zionist regime, warning that “If the Israeli regime wants to continue its adventurous moves, the retaliatory action will be swift and large-scale.”
Amir-Abdollahian added that the purpose of the Islamic Republic of Iran in conducting the attack was to warn the Israeli regime to understand the outcomes of crossing Iran’s red lines.
He went on to voice hope that “instead of condemning Iran’s legitimate actions, Germany’s efforts will be focused on stopping the war in Gaza and establishing stable peace and security from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea.”
Germany’s foreign minister, for her part, emphasized the necessity of holding as many talks as possible in the current dangerous time, adding that, “The recent developments have caused an increase in severe turbulence in the region and show that the tensions are escalating. Therefore, we believe that our joint efforts should be focused on preventing the escalation of the tension.”
Baerbock added that “We are trying every day to end this war and to lay the ground for achieving lasting peace.”
Iran’s retaliatory operation against Israel was a “necessary and proportionate” action taken in defense of the country’s national security, says Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan’ani.
Kan’ani made the remarks during a press briefing on Monday, a day after Iranian Armed Forces launched hundreds of missiles and drones at the occupied territories in retaliation for the Israeli regime’s April 1 terrorist strike on the Islamic Republic’s consulate in Syria.
“Iran’s action was necessary and proportionate and targeted military sites. Iran acted to defend its national security and interests given the lack of action by the UN Security Council and ensuing irresponsible behavior of the US, Britain and France,” he said.
Kan’ani also stressed that the Islamic Republic does not seek an escalation of regional tensions, adding, however, that the country will act “more strongly” within the framework of the UN Charter to deter and punish an aggressor who crosses its red lines.
Overnight on Saturday and early Sunday morning, more than 300 Iranian drones and missiles rained down on targets in the Israeli-occupied lands.
The large-scale operation came less than two weeks after Israeli warplanes bombed the consular annex of Iran’s embassy in the Syrian capital of Damascus, killing seven members of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) who were on an advisory mission to the Arab country.
Also in his remarks, the top diplomat said that Iran, as “a power that creates security”, exercised its inherent right to defend itself under Article 51 of the UN Charter.
“Iran and its diplomatic apparatus and Armed Forces acted professionally… and delivered a legitimate response to the [Israeli] regime’s act of aggression. Iran acted logically and responsibly,” he added.
“We had issued necessary warnings before taking action …, acted powerfully and will continue to do so.”
Legitimate attack
Commenting on the Western countries‘ condemnation of the retaliatory operation, Kan’ani said that they should take into account that the attack was legitimate and “appreciate Iran’s restraint concerning regional security and peace in recent months.”
“Instead of making accusations against Iran, they (the Western states) should ask themselves what they have done in the course of seven months of an open genocide and why they have not fulfilled their legal and moral responsibility towards Palestine,” he noted.
Israel waged a genocidal war on the Gaza Strip on October 7 after the Palestinian Hamas resistance group carried out a historic operation against the usurping entity in retaliation for the regime’s intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.
So far, Israel has killed at least 33,797 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 76,465 others.
In a telephone conversation with his German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock on Monday, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian described the powerful operation carried out by the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran against the Zionist regime on Saturday night as a “least” but “precise” operation against the regime’s military centers which was a retaliatory attack for the earlier attack by the Tel Aviv regime on Iran’s consulate in Damascus.
The Iranian foreign minister condemned Germany’s support for the Zionist regime, warning that “If the Israeli regime wants to continue its adventurous moves, the retaliatory action will be swift and large-scale.”
Amir-Abdollahian added that the purpose of the Islamic Republic of Iran in conducting the attack was to warn the Israeli regime to understand the outcomes of crossing Iran’s red lines.
He went on to voice hope that “instead of condemning Iran’s legitimate actions, Germany’s efforts will be focused on stopping the war in Gaza and establishing stable peace and security from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea.”
Germany’s foreign minister, for her part, emphasized the necessity of holding as many talks as possible in the current dangerous time, adding that, “The recent developments have caused an increase in severe turbulence in the region and show that the tensions are escalating. Therefore, we believe that our joint efforts should be focused on preventing the escalation of the tension.”
Baerbock added that “We are trying every day to end this war and to lay the ground for achieving lasting peace.”
