UNSC holds emergency session on Iran-Israel crisis, as US bombed Iran nukes sites

By Anjali Sharma

UNITED NATIONS – UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Sunday addressed the UNSC emergency special session on going conflict between Israel and Iran after US bombed three nuclear facilities in Iran, called for diplomacy must prevail’ over Iran after US military intervention in the conflict.

Mr. Guterres told the Security Council on Sunday that the bombing of Iran’s nuclear sites by the United States marks a “perilous turn”, warned that the region cannot endure yet another “cycle of destruction.”

He said the must be an immediate ceasefire and returned to “serious, sustained negotiations.”

The council met under its agenda item “international threats to peace and security” in an emergency session to discuss the latest developments in Iran, in the aftermath of United States strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites.

Miroslav Jenča, Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and Americas in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations; and Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), also briefed the council members on the situation.

Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and Americas in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations Miroslav Jenča warned that the Middle East ‘Cannot Afford Yet Another Violent Conflict’ Where Civilians Pay Price of Military Confrontations.

Miroslav Jenča said “The world will also not be spared from the ramifications of this dangerous conflict. This latest development must be viewed with the utmost seriousness.  It marks a dangerous escalation in a conflict that has already devastated many lives in both countries, in a region on the edge.”

“There is no military solution to this conflict.  We need diplomacy, de-escalation and confidence-building now.”

Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the UN nuclear watch dog agency International Atomic Energy Agency said that at this time, no one, including the IAEA, is in a position to assess the underground damage at Fordow.”

“Armed attacks on nuclear facilities should never take place and could result in radioactive releases with great consequences within and beyond the boundaries of the State which has been attacked,” he said.

He reiterated his calls for maximum restraint and a return to diplomacy.

Grossi added “Let us now allow the window to close on diplomacy; let us not allow the non-proliferation regime to fail, irrespective of individual positions and views. We will not be safer if there are more nuclear weapons in most in more States around the world.”

South Korean Ambassador to the UN, Joonkook Hwang said that despite the deeply concerning developments in recent days, the Republic of Korea remains firmly convinced that no sustainable resolution to this crisis can be achieved through military means alone.”

“Indeed, now more than ever we implore all parties to recognize that diplomacy is not merely an option but an urgent necessity.  We call on all sides to exercise maximum restraint and to commit, in earnest, to restoring dialogue and engaging in reinvigorated diplomatic efforts,” he added.

Permanent Representative of the UK to the UN Barbara Woodward, told the members of the Council that the British Foreign Minister met with Iranian counterpart, German, French partners earlier today to urge the parties to return to diplomacy.

Ms. Woodward said “My Prime Minister has been clear.  Iran must now show restraint, and all parties must return to the negotiation table and find a diplomatic solution, which stops further escalation and brings this crisis to an end.  It is in the interests of all parties to pursue such a deal.”

“The IAEA and the Non-Proliferation Treaty are key pillars of international security. Threats against IAEA staff and the Director General are unacceptable.  Iran must cooperate fully with the IAEA and the failure to do so will only further fuel escalation.”

Envoy of Panama to the UN, Eloy Alfaro de Alba called for immediate cessation of hostilities, grounded in Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, key for lasting, peaceful solution.

“We hope that some room might still remain for dialogue; we hope that this Council will  be able to play a constructive role to encourage that dialogue,”  Eloy Alfaro de Alba, said.

He added that “We must all urge the parties to find a solution that avoids civilian populations from becoming victims of an even worse conflict.”

Mohamed Rabi Yusuf, Deputy Permanent Representative of Somalia to the UN said that “The only viable path forward is a swift recommitment to talks on non-proliferation, in line with relevant international resolutions.”

He added “The challenges before us demand a collective, measured response rooted in dialogue, mutual respect, and a renewed commitment to multilateralism.  Somalia stands ready to engage constructively with the international community to advance peace, stability, and security for all States in the Middle East.”

Russian representative to the UN Ambassador Vassily A. Nebenzia, said that “Washington reasserted that to further the interests of its Israeli ally, it’s prepared not only to turn a blind eye to the killings of tens of thousands Palestinian women, children and older persons, but also to gamble with the safety and well-being of humanity.”

He stressed the United States leadership “actually flaunted” and demonstrated “wholesale disregard” for the norms of international law and the UN Charter, he said:  “We believe that none of our sensible colleagues in the international community will believe our US colleagues anymore, much like they won’t believe their attempts to convince the Security Council that Iran was trying to acquire nuclear weapons.”

US acting ambassador to the UN Dorothy Shea said that “This operation sought to eliminate a long standing but rapidly escalating source of global insecurity and to aid our ally Israel in our inherent right of collective self-defence, consistent with the UN Charter.”

“The time finally came for the United States in the defence of its ally and in the defence of our own citizens and interests, to act decisively,” she said.

She added that as President Donald J Trump said “any Iranian attack direct or indirect against Americans or American bases will be met with devastating retaliation.”

Iranian Ambassador to the UN Amir Saeid Iravani told the council members that “This is a historic test for this Council, for the United Nations as a whole. If this Council fails to act and condemn this blatant aggression, the stain of complicity will forever remain on its conscience, as it does with Gaza.”

“Iran reserves its full and legitimate right, under international law, to defend itself against this blatant US aggression and its Israeli proxy.  The timing, nature, and scale of Iran’s proportionate response will be decided by its armed forces,” he concluded his remarks.

Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon told council members that Iran used the negotiating table as camouflage, a delay tactic, a way to buy time while building missiles and enriching uranium. We gave it every possible off-ramp, Iran would not move, so it had to be moved.”

He said “A nuclear Iran would have been a death sentence, just as much for you as it would have been for us.”

Ambassador Danon added “We have already gained superiority across Iranian skies,” he said, tell Council members: “You cannot sit this one out.”