“We don’t want war. We haven’t attacked any country in last 4 centuries,” the Iranian ambassador to New Delhi Ali Chegeni told reporters in New Delhi on Wednesday, hours after Iran launched a major ballistic missile attack on US-led forces in Iraq, potentially triggering a new round of escalation in the confrontation between the two historic rivals.
He said that India should play a positive role amid the current regional tension:
“India is a part of the region. It should be a part of de-escalation. We are welcoming any initiative from our good friends from India,” he said.
The Iranian envoy also said that Iran’s Chabahar port was a symbol friendship:
“Chabahar is a symbol of India, Iran, Afghanistan friendships. It will go on,” said the Iranian envoy to India. “We don’t want war. We haven’t attacked any country in last 4 centuries,” he said.
Tensions between the US and Iran have been increasing following the US killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s elite Quds Force.
On Friday, the US conducted an airstrike near Iraq airport in Baghdad killing Soleimani and also Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy commander of Iran-backed militias in Iraq known as the Popular Mobilization Forces, or PMF, who joined in the protests at the US embassy in Baghdad on December 31.
Early Wednesday morning Iran retaliated by firing ballistic missiles at targets manned by Americans and their allies.
The Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and Iran’s President Hassan hailed the country’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) for conducting the ballistic missiles strikes.
“They were slapped last night, but such military actions are not enough. The corrupting presence of the US in the West Asian region must be stopped.” Said Khamenei during a gathering in the Holy city of Qom on Wednesday.
“”The US has caused wars, division, sedition, destruction, and the demolition of infrastructure in this region. Of course, they do this everywhere in the world. This region won’t accept the US presence. Governments elected by nations won’t accept the presence of the US.” Added Khamenei.
Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Jazad Zarif also tweeted that the missile attack was in self-defense under article 51 of UN charter.
“Iran took & concluded proportionate measures in self-defense under Article 51 of UN Charter targeting base from which cowardly armed attack against our citizens & senior officials were launched. We do not seek escalation or war, but will defend ourselves against any aggression,” Zarif tweeted.
