United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday issued a reminder that acts of reprisal involving the use of force are barred under international law after Iran’s attack on Israel, while the US warned the Security Council it would work to hold Tehran accountable at the UN.
Guterres, speaking to a meeting of the UN Security Council, told member states that the UN charter bars the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state as he condemned Iran’s attack on Israel and warned against further escalation.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks during a press conference inside a UNRWA school, at Al-Wehdat camp for Palestinian refugees, in Amman, Jordan, on 25th March, 2024. PICTURE: Reuters/Alaa Al-Sukhni/File photo
Iran launched a swarm of explosive drones and fired missiles on Saturday in its first-ever direct attack on Israeli territory, risking a major escalation.
The attack was in response to a suspected Israeli strike on Iran’s embassy compound in Syria on 1st April that killed top Revolutionary Guards commanders and followed months of clashes between Israel and Iran’s regional allies, triggered by the war in Gaza.
“The Middle East is on the brink. The people of the region are confronting a real danger of a devastating full-scale conflict. Now is the time to defuse and de-escalate,” Guterres told the meeting, which was called after Iran’s attack.
Deputy US Ambassador to the UN Robert Wood called on the 15-member body to unequivocally condemn Iran’s attack, as he said the Security Council has an obligation to not let Iran’s actions go unanswered.
“In the coming days, and in consultation with other member states, the United States will explore additional measures to hold Iran accountable here at the United Nations,” he said, without specifying what action the US would take.
“Let me be clear: if Iran or its proxies take actions against the United States or further action against Israel, Iran will be held responsible,” he said, adding that the US took note of Guterres’ remarks and that Washington’s actions have been defensive.
Tehran, which had vowed retaliation for what it called an Israeli strike on its Damascus consulate on 1st April that killed seven of its officers, said its strike was punishment for “Israeli crimes”. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility for the consulate attack.
Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, requested the council hold the meeting in a letter on Saturday to the council’s president.
“The Iranian attack is a serious threat to global peace and security and I expect the Council to use every means to take concrete action against Iran,” Erdan wrote in a post on X.
Guterres on Sunday also called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza after more than six months of fighting, the unconditional release of all hostages and the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza as it faces famine.
“Regional – and indeed global – peace and security are being undermined by the hour. Neither the region nor the world can afford more war,” he said.
G7 leaders discuss Iranian attack on Israel over a video meeting in this picture obtained from social media, Brussels, Belgium, on 14th April, 2024. PICTURE: Charles Michel via X/via Reuters
Earlier, G7 condemned Iran’s attack on Israel and said on Sunday they would work to try to prevent an “uncontrollable regional escalation” in the Middle East.
Italy, which holds the rotating presidency of the G7, had called a meeting of G7 heads after US President Joe Biden pledged a coordinated diplomatic response to the unprecedented drone and missile attack launched overnight by Iran.
“With its actions, Iran has further stepped toward the destabilization of the region and risks provoking an uncontrollable regional escalation. This must be avoided,” a statement issued by Italy said.
We rely on our readers to fund Sight's work - become a financial supporter today!
For more information, head to our Subscriber's page.
The G7 leaders, who spoke for just under an hour on a video conference, called for Iran to exercise restraint.
“In this spirit, we demand that Iran and its proxies cease their attacks, and we stand ready to take further measures now and in response to further destabilizing initiatives,” it said.
The G7 statement also pledged to work “towards an immediate and sustainable ceasefire” in Gaza after more than six months of fighting.
The G7 groups the United States, Canada, Italy, Britain, France, Germany and Japan, as well as the European Union. Its foreign ministers are scheduled to meet over April 17-19 on the Italian island of Capri.
Pope Francis leads the Regina Caeli prayer from his window at the Vatican, on 14th April, 2024. PICTURE: Vatican Media/Handout via Reuters
Meanwhile, Pope Francis on Sunday urged Iran and Israel to avoid steps that could feed “a spiral of violence” that risked plunging the Middle East deeper into conflict.
Speaking to pilgrims in St Peter’s Square, Francis said he had been following news of Iran’s drone and missile attack on Israel with a sense of concern and pain.
“I make a heartfelt appeal for a halt to any action that could fuel a spiral of violence with the risk of dragging the Middle East into an even greater conflict,” he said.
“No one should threaten the existence of others. All nations should stand, instead, for peace, and help Israelis and Palestinians to live in two states, side by side, in safety,” he added.
The Pope called for a ceasefire in Gaza and negotiations to allow humanitarian aid to be provided for its people and to help free Israeli hostages seized by Hamas in its 7th October attack on Israel.
“Enough war, enough attacks, enough violence. Yes to dialogue, yes to peace,” he said.
– With reporting by ANGELO AMANTE and KEITH WEIR
