'Hezbollah a Political Party, Not Terrorist Group': Iranian Envoy Elahi on Nasrallah’s Death

New Delhi: Iranian Ambassador to India, Dr Iraj Elahi, took a dig at Israel which is leading heavy action against Hezbollah and has labeled it as a terrorist organization, calling it an unjustified pretext for violence, bloodshed, and attacks on innocent civilians.

Elahi stated that Hezbollah is a political party, not a terrorist group.

His remarks are followed by the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli strike.

Speaking to a media agency, Elahi described Nasrallah's death as 'a significant loss for humanity.'  

Elahi stated, "The martyrdom of Hassan Nasrallah, a great leader and politician from Lebanon, is not a small matter. It's a loss not only for Muslims or Lebanese people but for all humanity."

Elahi further reiterated that Israel's claim of Hezbollah being a terrorist organization serves as a rationale for its aggressive actions in the region. He stated, "They call Hezbollah a terrorist group to justify their massacres, violence, and attacks on innocent people."

He also said that resolving tensions in the Middle East requires halting Israel's military operations. "The solution lies in stopping Israel’s invasions and military strikes. We hope that India, along with other nations, will use their influence to press Israel to cease its invasions of Palestine and Lebanon," Elahi added.

In response to Nasrallah’s death, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also warned Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah and his regime, stating that those who target Israel will face consequences. Netanyahu referred to Nasrallah as the main engine of Iran's axis of evil, and stated that he was not just a terrorist but the architect behind plans to destroy Israel.  He added further, "Nasrallah was not only operated by Iran, but he also frequently guided Iran’s actions."

Israeli airstrikes have resulted in the deaths of over 600 people in Lebanon, marking one of the deadliest and most intense bombardments in nearly a year. The Israeli military has urged residents in southern and eastern Lebanon to evacuate, as it prepares to intensify its operations against Hezbollah.

Earlier, Lebanon was shaken by a first-of-its-kind 'pager attack,' leaving several dead and many injured. As per media reports, the attack involved hacking and sabotaging Hezbollah’s encrypted communications network, widely believed to be done by Israel's Intelligence agency Mossad.