There is no ceasefire

While the Islamic Republic of Iran was engaged in negotiations with the United States regarding its peaceful nuclear programme, the Zionist regime launched a military attack on my country on June 13. This act by Israel constituted a clear case of military aggression and a threat to international peace and security. In accordance with the United Nations Charter, Iran exercised its legitimate right to self-defence and, in response to this aggression, targeted the military and security centres of the Zionist regime.

- IRAJ ELAHI Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran in India

As a result of Israel's military assault on my country, a number of military commanders, nuclear scientists and many civilians—most of them women and children— were martyred. Various discussions and perspectives have been shared about this war so far, but due to the widespread misinformation, it is necessary to present a few important facts about this conflict.

Israeli and American hostilities towards the independent development of Iran was the main cause of aggression. The Israeli regime and its allies have never accepted a powerful Iran that independently pursues the path of scientific and technological development and is becoming a new model of non-Western development. They use any flimsy excuse to prevent this independent progress.

Iran stands firmly against any misconduct that threatens the stability of the region. Through its precise, restrained and measured response to the Israeli and American aggression, Iran once again demonstrated that— contrary to certain allegations— while it does not seek conflict, it will stand tall against even the slightest violation of its territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Iran reacted to the aggression by exercising the inalienable right of self-defence. Our actions in response to the aggression of the Israeli and American regimes fall strictly within the internationally recognised principle of the inherent right of states to self-defence. Labels such as “retaliatory attack” fail to accurately depict the legal and strategic dimensions of Iran’s response.