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Iran protests to UN over US' storming of its consulate in Erbil

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

United Nations, Jan 20, IRNA
UN-Iran-Erbil
The Islamic Republic of Iran here on Friday wrote a letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon protesting against the storming of its consulate in the northern Iraqi city of Erbil by US forces.

US forces broke into Iran's consulate in Erbil on January 11 after disarming its guards and using force to break open the gate of the consulate building.

They ransacked the place, arrested six consular staff (one of which has since been released) which they took away along with the consulate's computers and documents to an unknown place.

In the letter addressed to UN Secretary-General Ban, Iran's permanent mission at the UN called for an "urgent and decisive response."

"Washington has once again openly violated international conventions granting immunity to diplomatic officials from search, arrest and detention with its abduction and consequent detention of the five Iranian consular staff in Erbil," the letter read.

The letter, signed by Deputy Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran at the UN Mehdi Danesh-Yazdi, strongly condemned the US raid, stressing that it was illegal and another flagrant violation of the basic principles of international law and diplomatic conventions which grant immunity from search, arrest and detention to representatives of foreign governments.

"This illegal act as well as the unlawful arrest and detention of two Iranian diplomats a few weeks earlier by US forces as they were about to enter Iraq on the invitation of the Iraqi president once again shows the contempt with which the United States of America regards international law and the basic principles on which international relations are based and practiced," Danesh-Yazdi said.

He called for the immediate release of the five Iranian consular officials and return of all consulate property seized by the US forces as well as compensation for damage caused the Islamic Republic of Iran.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran holds the US government fully responsible for the consequences of the unlawful act and for the safety and security of its consular officers," Danesh-Yazdi said.

"Moreover, the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran reserves its right to pursue its case and receive justice before the pertinent international tribunal," he added.

"Indeed, the attack is a matter of grave concern that requires an urgent and resolute response on the part of the United Nations and, in particular, by the Security Council," the envoy stated in his letter.

Danesh-Yazdi then called for the letter to be circulated as an official document of the UN General Assembly and the Security Council.

1422/2321/1414