Iran asks UN, EU to halt 'barbaric' Israel assault on Gaza

(TEHRAN) - Iran called on the United Nations and the European Union on Thursday to halt Israel's "barbaric" offensive against the Gaza Strip.

"Immediate and serious action by international (organisations) is needed to end the military campaign against the people of Gaza," Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said in a statement carried by the official IRNA news agency.

The call was made in separate letters to UN chief Ban Ki-moon, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, IRNA reported.

Salehi said the security of the Middle East was at stake as Israel pressed a major air offensive on Gaza, running more than 150 air sorties across the territory, killing 15 people and wounding more than 150.

Gaza militants have responded by firing more than 200 rockets at Israel, killing three people and wounding 19, and targeting but not hitting Tel Aviv.

Iran is a key backer of Gaza's Hamas rulers and arch foe of the Jewish state.

The "barbaric attacks have given rise to the possibility of Palestinians being massacred by the Zionist regime, as well as spread of insecurity and instability in the region," Salehi said.

Earlier, his spokesman, Ramin Mehmanparast, said the offensive amounted to "organised terrorism" in the face of what he called "silence of international organisations," state broadcaster IRIB reported.

"Unfortunately the massacre of innocent and defenceless Palestinians has become a routine procedure adopted by the Zionist regime," Mehmanparast said.

Iran "strongly condemns the criminal act of Zionist military forces in killing civilians," he said.

The operation against Gaza is Israel's toughest offensive against the territory in four years. It was launched on Wednesday with the killing of Hamas military chief Ahmed Jaabari in an air strike on a car in Gaza City.