I dare anyone intellectually honest to find a single lie in this UN speech by Iran. I personally couldn't.
By contrast you have countries like the US, UK, France and Germany calling their attack "unjustifiable and highly irresponsible" (in the German Chancellor's words), which relies on everyone forgetting it was made in retaliation to Israel bombing the Iranian consulate (meaning there was a strong legal justification for the strike), and relies on everyone not looking at the reality of an attack which only targeted military sites and didn't kill a single person (meaning it was responsible).
Thinking about it, maybe more than anything, this might have been one of the key reasons for the way Iran conducted its strike. A strike, yet another one, on Israel and the West's credibility, designed to expose the mental gymnastics needed to maintain their narrative. And the West, again, fell right into that trap.
War, at the end of the day, is a battle of wills. Military strength is almost secondary: as we've seen time and time again the side with the strongest commitment, the side that feels their cause is the most righteous, wins. This is why, for instance, Vietnam and Afghanistan both won against the US despite the gigantic differential in sheer strength.
And this is why more and more people, including extremely prominent voices in Israel itself, are starting to say that Israel has lost the war: because in the words of a famous Haaretz journalist who wrote that "Israel Has Been Defeated – a Total Defeat" (
haaretz.com/israel-news/2024…) it's become "internationally ostracized", meaning the world at large has become convinced that the Palestinian side is the righteous one.
Iran's strike further advances this international ostracization. It makes anyone with basic common sense tell themselves "ok, that was actually... a very reasonable response" and makes those acting as if that response was disproportionate or unprovoked sound like liars at best, deranged lunatics at worst.
We often say we live in a post-truth world, which in many respects is true. But if all this demonstrates anything, it is that losing that commitment to truth has immense and very real security implications.
🇮🇷 Iran at the UN: "Iran has warned time and again about the consequences of the malicious activities of the regime on regional and international peace and security. Iran has exercised maximum restraint. Now it is time for the occupying regime to bear full responsibility for its consequences."
"For over six months now, the US, UK and France, especially the United States, have shielded Israel from any responsibility for the Gaza massacre, while they have denied Iran's inherent right to self-defense against the Israeli armed attack on our diplomatic premises. At the same time, they shamefully justified the Israeli massacre and genocide against the defenseless Palestinian people under the pretext of self-defense."
"Iran's operation was entirely in the exercise of Iran's inherent right to self-defense, as outlined in Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations and recognized by international law. This concluded action was necessary and proportionate."
The absence of accountability and constant inaction faced with the Israeli genocide and war crimes against the Palestinian people has only emboldened this regime to continue its violation unchecked.
The US and its allies have blocked the Security Council for over six months, protecting Israel from accountability for the Gaza massacre. They not only avoid condemning Israel for these atrocities, but also actively try to cover up them. Their sole priority is supporting and defending Israel, regardless of the consequences and at all costs."
"Iran has no intention of engaging in conflict with the U.S. in the region. We demonstrated our commitment to peace by exercising our restraint about involving the U.S. Army in intercepting Iranian drones and bombs for military targets in the occupied Palestinian territories. This underscores our dedication to de-escalating tension and avoiding the expansion of conflict.
However, if the U.S. initiates a military operation against Iran, its citizens, or its security and interests, Iran will use its inherent right to respond proportionately."