STORY: Iran vows response to Israel's attack on consulate in Damascus
SHOOTING TIME: April 8, 2024
DATELINE: April 9, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:44
LOCATION: Damascus
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. shot of the Syrian foreign minister and Iranian foreign minister entering the conference hall
2. various of the conference
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Persian): HOSSEIN AMIR-ABDOLLAHIAN, Iranian Foreign Minister
4. wide shot of the conference
5. SOUNDBITE 2 (Persian): HOSSEIN AMIR-ABDOLLAHIAN, Iranian Foreign Minister
6. various of the conference
7. SOUNDBITE 3 (Arabic): FAISAL MEKDAD, Syrian Foreign Minister
8. wide shot of the conference
9. SOUNDBITE 4 (Arabic): FAISAL MEKDAD, Syrian Foreign Minister
10. end of the conference
11. various of the meeting between Syrian foreign minister and his Iranian counterpart
12. various of the meeting between Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Iranian foreign minister

STORYLINE:

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian stated on Monday that "Israel will receive the necessary response for its attack on our consulate in Damascus." 

He also blamed the United States for the incident during a press conference in Damascus alongside Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad.

Amir-Abdollahian held the U.S. responsible for the assault that resulted in the deaths of senior leaders in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

SOUNDBITE 1 (Persian): HOSSEIN AMIR-ABDOLLAHIAN, Iranian Foreign Minister
"I want to say loudly from here in Damascus that the U.S. has a responsibility in this terrorist incident and must bear this responsibility."

He said the lack of condemnation by the United States and two European countries on the Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus indicates Washington's involvement.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Persian): HOSSEIN AMIR-ABDOLLAHIAN, Iranian Foreign Minister
"The refusal of the U.S. and two European countries to issue a statement condemning the violation of Vienna treaties and the attack on the embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Damascus indicates that the U.S. has given the green light to Israel to commit this crime."

For his part, Mekdad slammed the Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus as a violation of international laws and all the values on which humanity stands.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Arabic): FAISAL MEKDAD, Syrian Foreign Minister
"The hypocritical face of the West and the full support provided by the United States of America everywhere to the Zionist entity are responsible for the continuation of these massacres committed by Israel."

The Syrian foreign minister further warned that the conflict in the region is expanding with every passing minute.

SOUNDBITE 4 (Arabic): FAISAL MEKDAD, Syrian Foreign Minister
"Of course, some claim that they are working to prevent the expansion of this war, but every hour, every day, and every minute this war is expanding."

Amir-Abdollahian arrived in Damascus on Monday afternoon for his first visit to the country since the Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate on April 1. The attack killed senior leaders in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a veteran commander who led the IRGC foreign operations wing, the Quds Force, in Syria and Lebanon.

On Monday, Amir-Abdollahian opened a new consulate building in Damascus.

During his visit, Amir-Abdollahian also held meetings with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad, and the officials in the Syrian National Security.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Damascus.
(XHTV)