Iran’s United Nations (UN) ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani, has claimed that the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has failed in its duty to maintain international peace and security because it did not condemn the Israeli attack on Iran’s diplomatic mission in Syria.
This comes after Iran launched hundreds of drones and missiles at Israel late on Saturday, April 13, 2024, in retaliation for a strike by Israel on Iran’s embassy compound in Syria on April 1, which prompted an emergency UNSC meeting on April 14, 2024, to prevent further escalations.
During the meeting, Amir said that his country’s action against Israel was necessary and proportionate, adding that Iran had no choice but to respond. He reiterated that his country does not seek escalation or war but will respond to any threat or aggression.
Iran further blamed the UNSC for failing to address the situation in Gaza, where Israel has killed over 33,000 people, with over two-thirds being women and children.
“It is time for the Security Council to shoulder its responsibility and address the real threat to international peace and security,” Amir said, urging it to “take urgent and punitive measures to compel this regime (Israel) to stop a genocide against the people of Gaza.”
At the same meeting, Russia’s Permanent Representative, Vassily Nebenzia, condemned the Council’s inaction regarding the Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate in Syria while also calling for an end to bloodshed in the Middle East.
“It is regrettable that, unlike today’s meeting, you did not propose to bring it to brief the Council on the 2nd of April,” he remarked, referring to Israel’s attack on the Iranian Consulate in Syria.
Nebenzia criticized Israel for its non-compliance with the UN Security Council resolutions, labeling it an evident disrespect shown to the Council and a complete disregard for the decisions made by the Security Council.
However, the UN has called on Iran and Israel to show restraint, with the threat of a full-scale direct conflict between the two countries looming over the Middle East. The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned the adversaries at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Sunday not to further escalate tension in the region with further attacks.
