by SAVIOUS KWINIKA
PRETORIA, (CAJ News) – IRAN has condemned what it describes as a joint United States–Israeli military assault that killed its Supreme Leader and scores of civilians, including schoolchildren, in attacks Iranian officials say targeted residential areas and educational facilities.
Addressing journalists in Pretoria, Iran’s Ambassador to South Africa, Mansour Shakib Mehr, framed the killing of Iran’s Leader as both a national tragedy and a violation of international law.
“Among the believers are men who have been true to their covenant with God; some of them have fulfilled their vow, and some still await, and they have never altered in the least,” Mehr said, quoting the Holy Qur’an.
He added: “Our strength comes from the blood of the martyrs.”
According to Iranian authorities, one of the deadliest incidents occurred in Minab, southern Iran, where an all-girls elementary school was struck during aerial bombardments.
Iranian officials say nearly 170 children were killed when the school was “almost completely destroyed” in the early hours of the attack.
Tehran has described the strike as deliberate and a grave breach of international humanitarian law.
“For example, in the city of Minab in southern Iran, an all-girls elementary school was almost completely destroyed, resulting in the death of nearly 170 innocent children,” Mehr said.
“This horrific crime against children shocks the conscience of humanity.”
The ambassador accused Washington and Israel of carrying out “a clear breach of Article 2, paragraph 4, of the United Nations Charter,” calling the operation “a clear instance of ‘aggressive action’ and the ‘crime of aggression’ under international law.”
He further argued that the attack came while Iran was engaged in negotiations with the United States.
“A military attack in the midst of diplomatic efforts is a betrayal to dialogue and the foundations of peaceful dispute resolution,” Mehr said.
Rejecting claims that Iran poses a nuclear threat, he stated that Iran “has not pursued nuclear weapons” and had cooperated extensively with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) prior to the June 2025 strikes.
Mehr defended Iran’s retaliatory measures as lawful self-defence.
“We are not attacking our neighbours’ soils, we retaliate to USA military bases and the place of their hide outs. This is our inherent right,” he said, citing Article 51 of the UN Charter.
Calling for global solidarity, he urged international bodies to act.
“We expect the United Nations, the Security Council, and all Member States to fulfil their serious responsibility in preserving international peace and security,” he said.
Despite the loss of its Leader and senior commanders, Mehr maintained that Iran remains resolute.
“The loss of a great Leader will never undermine the will of the Iranian nation to defend its independence, dignity, and territorial integrity,” he said.
– CAJ News