Tehran seeking support as victim, not military aid: Envoy

Iran’s ambassador to Bangladesh, Jalil Rahimi Jahanabadi, has called on Dhaka to express sympathy and support for Iran as a country under attack, saying Tehran is not seeking military assistance from Bangladesh following recent strikes by the United States and Israel.

Speaking at a press conference in Dhaka on Wednesday (March 4), the envoy said Iran does not expect war supplies or logistical support from any country, but hopes Bangladesh, as a Muslim-majority nation, will strongly condemn what he described as aggression.

Jahanabadi said Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several members of his family were killed in a “devastating” joint strike by the United States and Israel last Saturday.

According to the Iranian Red Crescent Society, the death toll from the attacks has surpassed 1,000.

He added that Iran has since launched retaliatory missile and drone strikes in response to the attacks.

The envoy’s remarks come amid debate in Bangladesh after the government issued two statements on the conflict without directly naming Israel or the United States and without mentioning Khamenei’s death.

Jahanabadi also noted that the United Nations has condemned the attack on Iran, and said Tehran expects Bangladesh—both a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the Non-Aligned Movement—to raise a stronger protest over the incident.