Iranian diplomat on possible ‘Pakistan airspace use’ against Iran

New Delhi: Amid speculation over Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir's meeting with US President Donald Trump amid Iran's conflict with Israel, a senior Iranian diplomat has hoped that Pakistan airspace and airbases will not be used for operations against his country.

In an interview with ANI, Iranian Deputy Chief of Mission in India, Mohammad Javad Hosseini answered queries on a range of issues and said his country has not talked of mediation and has called upon the international community to stop "aggression" by Israel as it is not beneficial to anyone.

He hoped the United States will not enter the conflict because it would "not benefit" any of the players in the region.

"I hope it would not use this one," Hosseini said when asked about Asim Munir's meeting with Trump and the possibility that Pakistan airspace and airbases could be used for operations against Iran.

"The truth is that since June 13, we were attacked by the Israeli regime in an aggression which is a flagrant violation of international law and a violation of the sovereignty of an independent state. It was highly expected that the free nations would condemn such aggression, a blatant international law violation. We are in a position to defend our people, our government, our country in the best way. We have shown that we are able and we will continue because we are under attack and we have to defend," he said.

Hosseini said his country's retaliatory action is based on self-defence, which is enshrined in Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, "which gives us this power to defend our people".

"The Israeli government and the Israeli officials officially announced some threats against Iranian high-ranking officials. They assassinated some of the Iranian military officials, which is totally against any regulations," he said.

He also referred to Iran cancelling next round of nuclear talks with the United States amid rising tensions in the Middle East.

"We were at the negotiating table. It was America that gave the green light to the Israelis to have these military attacks against Iran. They have made a lot of accusations, but there was no proof... We are still at the negotiation table, but nobody can force us to do whatever they want. They cannot tell us to stop or continue the war, or defend ourselves. We hope that America doesn't enter into this conflict because it would be to the benefit of none of the players in the region," Hosseini said.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said "we" now have "complete and total control of the skies over Iran" and "we know exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding".

"We now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran," Trump wrote on his social media 'Truth Social'."

"Iran had good sky trackers and other defensive equipment, and plenty of it, but it doesn't compare to American-made, conceived, and manufactured 'stuff.' Nobody does it better than the good ol' USA," he said in a post. (ANI)

Also Read: ‘Mass murderer, shame on you’: Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir booed in US

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