Iran's Ambassador to the United Nations defended Iran's recent actions against Israel during an emergency meeting of the Security Council. He asserted that Iran was simply exercising its right to self-defense, emphasizing that the country felt compelled to respond to Israel's actions. Moreover, he criticized the Security Council for what he perceived as a failure to uphold international peace and security. The Ambassador called on the Council to take swift and punitive measures against Israel, accusing it of perpetrating a genocide against the people of Gaza.
The backdrop to these heightened tensions is Israel's ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza, which has resulted in significant casualties on both sides. Iran, historically regarding Israel as an enemy, has refrained from direct confrontation until now, preferring to engage through proxies. However, recent events have led to a more direct confrontation between the two nations.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also weighed in on the situation, urging restraint and emphasizing the need to de-escalate the conflict. He condemned both Iran's strikes on Israel and the attack on Iran's consulate in Damascus, stressing the importance of stepping back from the brink of further conflict.
