Iran’s Foreign Affairs Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian is throwing a tantrum over Israel’s attack on Iran’s diplomatic compound in Damascus, Syria, which killed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi along with his officials and deputies. There is nothing in international law that prevents a state from hitting an embassy if it is being used for hostile purposes. Mohammad Reza Zahedi was in charge of the IRGC operations in Syria and Lebanon, and effectively responsible for the murder of many Syrians and a perpetrator of attacks on Israel from Syria and Lebanon.
The Iranian Foreign Minister has been calling his foreign counterparts to protest against the attack. He has also called Malta’s Foreign Affairs Minister Ian Borg, who after the call, issued a very unneeded and redundant comment. The IRGC is considered as a terrorist organisation both by the US and the EU, and by international treaties, Malta is also obliged to consider it as such. The IRGC has been instrumental in Syria to keep President Bashar al-Assad in power as they massacred and depopulated Syrians. They are one of the most active terrorist groups in the Near East and are also responsible for attacks on the Israeli border with Syria and Lebanon.
Historically, Malta had an irregular relationship with Iran given that Iranians used Malta as a point by which to evade sanctions, with the most notable case being that of Ali Sadr’s Pilatus Bank. Historically, Iran has also used Malta as a shipping hub forming part of its supply chains. Last year, when Malta held the chair of the UN Security Council, Iran cozied up to us with further talks and phone calls. I’m sure they suspect that we can be easily used for their nefarious interests given that as of lately, the Labour Party has adopted a “pacifist” position against European defense.
There’s also some irony here with Iran fuming at the bombing of its diplomatic compound as if Iran has ever obeyed and respected international regulations. And to add insult to injury, Iran has been attacking and targeting the US Embassy in Iraq for years on end. It’s probably a tradition they like extending ever since the American embassy in Tehran was occupied in 1979 for more than 444 days.
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