Iran's FM, UN chief discuss Israeli attack on Iranian mission in Syria

TEHRAN -- Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday exchanged views on the deadly Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate building in Syria.

In a phone call, the two sides condemned the missile strike on Monday by Israeli warplanes against the consular section of the Iranian embassy in the Syrian capital Damascus, and also discussed the latest developments in the Gaza Strip, according to a statement released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

The UN chief extended condolences to Iran over the attack that killed seven Iranians, including two veteran commanders, adding that the UN issued a statement earlier in the day and condemned any attack on diplomatic and consular premises and personnel.

He also said the UN highlighted the necessity to reach an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, send humanitarian aid to the coastal enclave, and prevent the widening of the ongoing conflict's scope.

The Iranian foreign minister, for his part, expressed gratitude to the UN chief for condemning the Israeli attack and expressing sympathy, noting that Israel's attack was "a flagrant violation of the international conventions on the immunity of diplomats and diplomatic missions."

He added Iran expected the UN to strongly condemn Israel's action, calling on Guterres to help convene an urgent UN Security Council meeting to address the attack.

The Syrian Defense Ministry reported that on Monday, around 5:00 pm local time (1400 GMT), Israeli forces carried out a missile strike from the direction of the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, targeting the Iranian embassy's consulate building in Damascus.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for Guterres, conveyed the UN chief's strong condemnation of the attack and further relayed his call for all parties to exercise maximum restraint and to prevent any further escalation of the situation.