In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate   The Statement of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Bucharest with respect to the remarks by Reuven Azar, Ambassador of the Zionist Regime in Romania, in the recent interviews with Romanian Media on 30 October 2022 and 8 November 2022[1] The remarks by the so-called Ambassador of the Zionist Regime in Romania with respect to Iran are nothing but a projection. In fact, what is the center of all threats in the West Asia and also globally, is the occupation, apartheid, international crimes and weapons of mass destruction of the criminal regime of Israel.* The root of all instability in the region and the world lies in the approach and behavior of Israel's apartheid regime. Manipulation of facts and diverting the attention of international community through fake news and unfounded allegations against others does not change the truth of this regime.   It is downright hilarious and pathetic that the so-called ambassador of the Israeli regime that possesses nuclear weapons and is not a member of the 1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty is talking about the peaceful nuclear program of a country that is a member of the said treaty. This regime also for decades has occupied Palestine and territories of the countries of the region, in clear violation of United Nations resolutions, and has committed numerous international crimes, including through illegal settlements and massacre of the civilians. It is ridiculous that Ambassador of the Zionist Regime is attempting to conceal all this long history of aggression and occupation by Israeli regime against countries of the region, which is still ongoing in full defiance with all established rules and principles of international law, in particular many resolutions of the United Nations and against the demand of the international community, including the Europe.   The leaders of the Israeli regime, instead of projecting and hiding behind their criminal history, shall respond for their occupation, apartheid, international crimes and weapons of mass destruction. The international community must also take firm and meaningful steps to hold this regime accountable for all such unlawful continuous conduct and practice. Undoubtedly, economic interests in no way will justify tolerance and silence against the occupation and international crimes of the Zionist regime of Israel. No country is permitted to trade off these heinous crimes and illegal conducts with business and money. Tolerance and silence has given the wrong message that this regime and its leaders have an absolute impunity for their grave and serious violations of the principles and rules of international law, those that are shared by the European countries, including Romania. Compromising with the Israeli aggressor and criminal will not ensure the security of any one.   If the international community listen to its inner voice, certainly will reach to the conclusion that if there is someone who should immediately be sanctioned, it is the Israeli regime and its leaders. Appeasement policy vis-à-vis the Israeli regime not only will not contribute to the regional and international peace and security, but also, to the contrary, will embolden this regime to continue with its international crimes.   On ongoing crisis in Ukraine, the embassy would like to refer to the official position of the Islamic Republic of Iran in this respect as issued on 18th October 2022 and available here: https://twitter.com/IRANinROMANIA/status/1582373785570639872 *** * The International crimes of Israeli regime are well documented in many international reports including the following recent ones: https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2022/03/israels-55-year-occupation-palestinian-territory-apartheid-un-human-rights https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2022/02/israels-system-of-apartheid/ https://www.icc-cpi.int/news/statement-icc-prosecutor-fatou-bensouda-respecting-investigation-situation-palestine https://www.sipri.org/research/armaments-and-disarmament/nuclear-weapons/world-nuclear-forces/israel ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [1]  https://www.digi24.ro/video/reconfigurare-politica-in-orientul-mijlociu-2134851  https://adevarul.ro/blogurile-adevarul/exclusiv-ambasadorul-israelului-iran-ramane-2218490.html