Iran deplores Israeli failure to free Iranian diplomats

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, July 6, IRNA -- Iran on Wednesday deplored Israeli failure to free four Iranian diplomats its agents kidnapped from Lebanon in 1982.

Foreign Ministry in a statement marked the 29th anniversary of kidnapping four diplomats -- Ahmad Motevaselian, Seyed Mohsen Mousavi, Taghi Rastegar Moghadam and Kazem Akhavan by Israeli agents in Lebanon.

During the invasion of Lebanon on July 4, 1982, four Iranian diplomats were kidnapped by Israeli proxy militiamen at an inspection point for the Lebanese Forces in north Lebanon.

Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the Islamic Republic of Iran will pursue the whereabouts of the four Iranian diplomats and God willing will return them to their families.

'After a lapse of 29 years, their families are still waiting for their children’s homecoming.'

The Foreign Ministry statement said that though necessary measures have been taken to shed light on the legal and humanitarian issue, unfortunately, Tel Aviv regime has conducted the issues in irresponsible way which slowed down the international investigation.

The statement noted that Iran has urged the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to require Tel Aviv regime to heed the international conventions and cooperate with the International Committee of the Red Cross to determine whereabouts of the Iranian diplomats.

The statement also called on the host country, Lebanon, to help Iran set up a special committee to coordinate the efforts to clarify the whereabouts of the captives.