Iran-UN-Diplomats
The Iranian government is of the strong view and belief that the Israeli regime is responsible for abduction and fate of the Iranian diplomats in Lebanon in 1982.

Iran's Permanent Ambassador to the United Nations Mohammad Khazaee made the remark in a letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Iran's then charge d'affaires to Beirut Mohsen Mousavi, Iranian diplomat Taqi Rastegar-Moqaddam, the country's military attache Ahmad Motevasselian and IRNA photojournalist Kazem Akhavan were kidnapped in Beirut in 1982 while being escorted by the Lebanese police on their way back home from a mission in northern Lebanon.

While travelling through the coastal road between Tripoli and Beirut, the said Iranian officials were stopped and detained, at Barbareh check-point in Madfoon area, 40 km north of Beirut, in violation of the most basic provisions governing diplomatic immunities and in a flagrant contempt for the most fundamental principles of international law, by Christian paramilitary forces named Lebanese Forces who were then under the control and command of the Israeli regime's army, Khazaee wrote in his letter.

"There are various news reports and numerous signs well indicating that the said Iranian officials were immediately handed over to the Israeli military forces after their abduction, as Beirut was occupied by the Israeli regime at the time," he said.

They were subsequently taken to the Israeli prisons and have been since then under the captivity of the Israeli regime, he said, adding that this illegal and inhumane act is against the fundamental international rules and principles, and also contravenes numerous UN resolutions which strongly condemn acts of violence against diplomatic and consular missions and representatives.

"No credible piece of evidence has ever been presented to indicate the martyrdom of the said Iranian officials to date. On the contrary, various evidences, including the assertions by some of those who have been in Israeli prisons or have visited the said prisons suggest that they are still alive and are in the hands of the Israeli regime," the Iranian envoy said in his letter.

Khazaee further stressed that 26 long years have passed since this outrageous abduction. Throughout all these years, and in the absence of any meaningful action by the UN to secure their release, the Iranian diplomats and journalist have been languishing in Israeli prisons, and their families have been enduring enormous pain and suffering in anguish and disillusionment, he added.

The Iranian envoy urged the UN to address this grave illegal act that undermines some of the most basic principles on which international relations is based and operates.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran calls on the Security Council and the secretary-general to live up to their responsibilities under the United Nations Charter without further delay by reacting to the illegal abduction and continued unlawful detention of Iranian diplomats and journalist by the Israeli regime, and by helping secure their safe and immediate release," Khazaee reiterated.

The Iranian envoy then called for circulation of the letter as a document of the General Assembly and of the Security Council.

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