NEW YORK: The United Nations Security Council convened an emergency session on the escalating situation in the Middle East, with global powers expressing sharply divided positions over the recent military strikes involving Iran.
Addressing the council, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the world was standing on the brink of a serious crisis. He said the UN Charter guarantees the sovereignty and security of all member states and stressed that the use of force against any country constitutes a violation of international law.
Guterres expressed concern over the reported US and Israeli military actions against Iran, stating that the attacks had placed international peace at grave risk. He noted reports indicating that at least 20 Iranian civilians were killed in the strikes, calling the situation alarming and unacceptable. He underscored that adherence to international law must be ensured at all costs and emphasised that sustainable peace can only be achieved through dialogue and diplomacy.
During the session, circulating reports regarding the possible death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei were also mentioned. Guterres adopted a cautious stance, stating that no definitive conclusion could be drawn at this stage.
France’s representative strongly condemned the attack on Iran and stressed that the region urgently needed peace. He urged the Security Council to work toward creating conditions conducive to negotiations and reiterated that the use of force violates international law.
Bahrain’s envoy described Iran’s actions as a serious shock and condemned missile strikes that reportedly landed in civilian areas. He termed any attack on Bahrain’s sovereignty unacceptable and referred to reports of strikes affecting Kuwait, the UAE and Jordan.
Russia’s representative characterised the situation as deeply alarming, stating that Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity had been violated. He claimed that over 200 civilians had been killed in Iran and criticised the United States and Israel for what he described as irresponsible actions that threaten global peace.
China’s envoy also condemned the attack on Iran, stating that the US action had brought the region to the brink of war and called on Washington and Tehran to return to the negotiating table.
Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, addressed the council and condemned attacks affecting Gulf countries. He noted that several Arab states had been advocating dialogue and de-escalation. He also expressed regret over the reported death of Iranian students in the joint US-Israeli strikes.
The emergency session continued amid growing international calls for restraint and a renewed push for diplomatic engagement to prevent further escalation in the region.