Iran Denounces "Illegal Use of Force" vs. Israel Defends "Nuclear Containment"... War of Words Outside Official Channels (Comprehensive)

Iranian and Israeli Ambassadors to Korea Hold Press Conferences for Korean Media on the Same Day

The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran to South Korea and the Embassy of Israel to South Korea both held press conferences for the Korean media in Seoul on the 5th, engaging in a public opinion battle over the recent situation in the Middle East.

Ambassador Seyed Kazem Sajjadpour of Iran to South Korea held a press conference on the 5th at the Embassy of Iran in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Seyed Kouzechi, Ambassador of Iran to South Korea, held a press conference at the Iranian Embassy in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, at 10:00 a.m. that day, stating, "The military attacks by the United States and its regional proxy, the Israeli regime, are a clear betrayal of diplomacy." He further criticized, "These actions are a direct violation of Article 2, Paragraph 4 of the UN Charter and constitute illegal use of force."

He continued, "The first victims were 165 young female students at a school in Minabshi," and added, "The Iranian government plans to file charges against the United States and Israel at the International Criminal Court (ICC) based on documentation and evidence." By emphasizing civilian casualties resulting from U.S. and Israeli airstrikes, he signaled Iran's intention to publicize the illegality of the current war within the international community.

The possibility of escalation and a prolonged conflict was also mentioned. Ambassador Kouzechi said, "We have no hesitation in exercising our right to self-defense, as guaranteed under Article 51 of the UN Charter," stressing, "Iran's response is not retaliation, but legitimate self-defense, and it will continue until aggression is completely halted." He added, "Since the United States is using military bases in Arab countries to attack Iran, we believe the war could be prolonged," and clarified, "Under the current illegal and aggressive circumstances, we cannot sit at any negotiation table."

Ambassador Kouzechi also recalled that the airstrikes occurred just before the third round of negotiations with the U.S. regarding Iran's nuclear program, and criticized, "The nuclear issue is merely a political pretext created to justify pressure on Iran." He insisted, "The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has repeatedly reported that there is no evidence of Iran weaponizing its nuclear development," and argued, "Despite Israel being the only country in the Middle East with nuclear weapons, it has not allowed any IAEA inspections."

He further stated, "If we remain silent about this attack, it can only be interpreted as agreeing to the United States and Israel waging war against Iran," and appealed to the Korean government, saying, "We hope you will play a greater role in halting the conflict."

Raphael Harpaz, Ambassador of Israel to Korea, held a press conference on the 5th at the Gwanghwamun HJ Business Center in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News.

Raphael Harpaz, Ambassador of Israel to South Korea, also held a press conference at 11:00 a.m. that day at the Gwanghwamun HJ Business Center in Jongno-gu, Seoul, where he argued for the legitimacy of the current war, stating, "Iran has deceived the international community about the progress of its nuclear development." He continued, "The enrichment of uranium to 60 percent clearly indicates an intention for weaponization, not civilian use," adding, "Iran is a country that would not hesitate to use nuclear weapons if it acquires them."

Ambassador Harpaz, in particular, mentioned North Korea's nuclear program, saying, "Because nuclear development in North Korea was not stopped in the 1990s, we have reached the current situation," and argued, "We have launched this operation to prevent Iran from following the same path, drawing lessons from the North Korean nuclear issue." This statement presents the rationale that the attack on Iran was a preemptive measure to block a nuclear program similar to North Korea's.

However, he clarified, "As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated, this is not an 'endless operation,'" and added, "Just as the United States has given many opportunities in the past, if Iran is willing to negotiate, the operation could be concluded."

Regarding the criticism that the United States and Israel conducted airstrikes on civilian facilities, including elementary schools, in Iran, Ambassador Harpaz responded, "We are currently verifying those reports," and asserted, "We have never intentionally targeted civilian facilities."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.