Iran demanded international organizations hold Israel accountable for the fate of four Iranian diplomats kidnapped in Lebanon in 1982 and pave the way for punishing the perpetrators of the crime.

Iran�s Foreign Ministry expressed sympathy with the families of its missing diplomats in a statement on Wednesday, commemorating the 41st anniversary of their abduction.

�Based on the 1949 Geneva Conventions�, the Islamic Republic of Iran holds the Zionist regime and its supporters�responsible for all aspects of the kidnapping and the terrorist act given the fact that the incident took place during the occupation of Lebanon by Israel.�

Iran also �requests relevant international and human rights organizations to accept their legal and humanitarian responsibilities in this regard, take necessary measures to exert pressure on the Zionist regime, � ensure its maximum cooperation towards shedding light on the fate of our loved ones, and provide the grounds for punishing those behind the crime and the violation of international law.�

On July 4, 1982, the year Israel invaded Lebanon, Ahmad Motevasselian, Seyyed Mohsen Mousavi, Taqi Rastegar Moqaddam and Kazem Akhavan were kidnapped by a group of Israel-backed gunmen at an inspection post in northern Lebanon.

Iran says the diplomats were abducted by Phalange militiamen and handed over to Israel.

In the past years, there were conflicting reports about their fate. While some claimed the militia group had killed them, others believed they were still alive, languishing in Israeli jails.

By Press TV