During an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, the United States issued a warning to Iran, stating that Iran would be held accountable if it engaged in further military actions against Israel or the U.S. The meeting was prompted by an Iranian attack on Israel, which occurred on Saturday.
U.S. Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood emphasized that the U.S. was not seeking escalation and asserted that its actions were purely defensive. The U.S. urged the Security Council to condemn Iran’s attack on Israel and echoed U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ call for de-escalation.
However, Russia and Iran criticized the calls for de-escalation as hypocritical, citing previous actions by the U.S., U.K., and France in blocking a Security Council press statement condemning Israel’s airstrike on Iran’s consulate in Syria.
Despite the lack of an official statement from the Security Council following the emergency session, Vanessa Frazier of Malta, the current holder of the UNSC presidency, expressed her belief that the meeting contributed to reducing tensions in the region.
Iran’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, stated that Tehran aims to avoid further conflict escalation but would defend itself if the U.S. initiated military operations against Iran.
The airstrike carried out by Iran on Saturday was largely thwarted by Israel’s air defense systems, with support from allies the U.S., Britain, and France. Some U.S. officials interpreted the attack as Iran’s attempt to save face without seeking escalation.
The situation underscores the delicate balance between supporting Israel and avoiding further escalation in the region. American officials have urged Israel to exercise restraint in its response, with President Joe Biden affirming that the U.S. would not participate in an Israeli counter-strike.”
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