Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) says the Iranian armed forces’ attack on the Israeli regime was carried out based on Article 51 of the UN Charter, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).
Under UN Chapter VII’s ‘Action with respect to Threats to the Peace, Breaches of the Peace, and Acts of Aggression’, Article 51 of the UN Charter recognizes the existence of an inherent right of self-defense in the case of an armed attack by one State against another State.
The charter says: “Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defense if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Nations, until the Security Council has taken measures necessary to maintain international peace and security. Measures taken by Members in the exercise of this right of self-defense shall be immediately reported to the Security Council and shall not in any way affect the authority and responsibility of the Security Council under the present Charter to take at any time such action as it deems necessary in order to maintain or restore international peace and security.”
The SNSC issued a statement on Sunday after the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps and other armed forces launched hundreds of missiles and drones at the Israeli-occupied territories late last Saturday in response to an April 1 attack by Israel on the Iranian diplomatic mission in Syria.
The SNSC said in its statement that Israel had crossed the red lines, adding that Iran took the least necessary punitive measure against the “aggressor regime” to protect its national security and interests.
Iran only targeted air, intelligence and military bases of the Israeli regime, and refrained from attacking economic and infrastructure facilities, the statement further said.
It added that the Islamic Republic does not plan any further military action for now, but warned that the Israeli regime will receive a stronger response if it continues its evil acts at any level and by using any means.
