Upon instructions from my Government and with reference to the letter dated 13 April 2018 from the Permanent Representative of the Israeli regime to the United Nations (S/2018/349), and pursuant to my letter dated 20 February 2018 (S/2018/142) regarding some baseless allegations against the Islamic Republic of Iran, I have the honour to draw your attention to the following:

Contrary to the made-up claim, operational details that were provided to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran illustrate that the unmanned aerial vehicle was flying inside Syria near the border with Jordan and the occupied Palestinian territories for the purpose of monitoring and surveillance of ISIL and other terrorist groups there. It was neither armed nor had intention for engagement or mission for possible attack anywhere.

The reckless Israeli action in this instance only helped ISIL and other terrorist groups in Syria. There is, indeed, enough evidence of Israeli support to these terrorist groups, which are under Security Council sanctions, and this incident clearly demonstrates its destructive policy in assisting those groups for the purpose of destabilizing the region. The Israeli regime was established through occupation and aggression and its survival has been intertwined with such destabilizing behaviours.

The Israeli regime invoked that instance for a series of so-called pre-emptive military attacks, including the one on 9 April 2018, in violation of the Charter of the United Nations. The recent letters by the Israeli regime (S/2018/111 and S/2018/349), as well as its public statements, clearly demonstrate that the military attacks were carried out with the obvious intention of targeting Iranian nationals and interests legitimately deployed in the Syrian Arab Republic. The Islamic Republic of Iran preserves its right to self-defence in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and calls upon the Security Council to uphold its responsibilities by condemning these acts of aggression and asking the Israeli regime to stop its dangerous and constant adventurism and provoking behaviours, which are threatening regional peace and security.

I should be grateful if you would have the present letter circulated as a document of the Security Council.

Gholamali Khoshroo