Iran’s President Pours Scorn on Israeli Strikes, Calls for Regional Cooperation During ECO Summit
Iran's president defends strikes on Israel as lawful self-defense under UN Charter at ECO summit. Pezeshikian proposes regional crisis center, condemns Israeli attacks on nuclear sites. Summit focuses on economic cooperation among member states amid ongoing regional tensions.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Iranian President Masoud Pezeshikian said on Friday that Tehran’s military response during the 12-day war with Israel was a legitimate act of self-defense under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, emphasizing that the strikes prevented the conflict from spreading further across the region.
Speaking at the 17th summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), held in the city of Khankendi in Azerbaijan on July 4, Pezeshikian said Iran’s armed forces acted strictly within international law by defending Iranian territory and civilians from Israeli assaults.
Iran Condemns Israeli Strikes, Calls for Stability
According to the state-run IRNA news agency, Pezeshikian strongly condemned Israel’s attacks on Iran, which he said were carried out with the support of the United States. He accused Tel Aviv of violating international norms by targeting civilian populations and nuclear facilities under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
“During the 12-day war, Israel committed criminal acts against peaceful Iranian nuclear sites and civilians,” the Iranian president stated. He praised his country’s measured military response and described it as a deterrent against further escalation in the volatile region.
Proposal for a Regional Emergency Response Center
Pezeshikian proposed the establishment of a regional emergency crisis response center to address future threats and coordinate swift humanitarian and security responses. He also underscored the importance of expanding the tourism sector across ECO member states, urging the implementation of the organization’s 2035 tourism development plan.
To achieve this vision, he stressed the importance of securing regional air travel, easing visa requirements, and fostering joint ventures across member nations in the tourism and transportation sectors.
Regional Diplomacy and Casualties Acknowledged
On the sidelines of the summit, Pezeshikian met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. During those meetings, he discussed the human toll suffered by Iran during the 12-day conflict with Israel and reiterated Tehran’s right to self-defense.
The Iranian leader expressed appreciation for the positions taken by ECO member states and other regional and international organizations that publicly condemned Israel’s military aggression and voiced solidarity with Iran.
ECO’s Growing Membership and Role
The Economic Cooperation Organization was originally founded in 1984 by Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey to deepen economic integration across the region. Its membership has since expanded to include Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan.
The 17th summit covered a wide range of economic, social, and political cooperation initiatives, aiming to bolster unity and collective resilience among member states.
