GENEVA, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi condemned Israeli attacks on the country at a United Nations meeting here on Friday.
Speaking at the 59th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Araghchi said that Israel has launched "an unprovoked aggression" against Iran.
Araghchi is in Geneva for a meeting with his counterparts from Britain, France and Germany, with an EU representative also attending.
Araghchi pointed out in his speech at the UNHRC meeting that Israel has been committing "a horrible genocide in Palestine," and now it is waging aggression against Iran.
Israel is committing war crimes and crimes against humanity, he said.
Iran's nuclear facilities have also been targeted, despite their being under monitoring of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Araghchi noted.
Such attacks not only constitute a violation of international law, but could also trigger serious radioactive leaks with catastrophic environmental and public health consequences, he added.
Araghchi noted that Iran was supposed to meet the United States on June 15 for peaceful resolution of Iran's nuclear issue. The Israeli attacks, he said, represent a betrayal of diplomacy and a blow to the UN system.
Shortly before the UNHRC session, Daniel Meron, Israel's permanent representative to the UN Office at Geneva, addressed the media.
Meron said that Israel has to act now to eliminate the "existential threat" posed by Iran, stressing that Israel only attacks military objectives and strategic weapons, and that target selection is carried out responsibly and meticulously.
In response to the meeting between the Iranian foreign minister and the European officials, Meron said Israel expects the European officials to "take a firm stance" on Iran and demand a complete rollback of the nuclear program, the dismantling of ballistic missile arsenal and program, among others. ■
