UNITED NATIONS — Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a forceful condemnation of military escalation in the Middle East following coordinated strikes by the United States and Israel against Iranian targets, prompting an emergency session of the UN Security Council on Saturday.
In an official statement, Guterres emphasized that recent attacks—including Iran’s retaliatory measures—severely jeopardize international peace and security. ‘I call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and de-escalation,’ he declared ahead of his scheduled address to the Council at 4:00 pm EST (2100 GMT).
The extraordinary meeting was convened following formal requests from five nations: France, China, Russia, Bahrain, and Colombia, according to diplomatic sources. The Russian mission to the UN characterized the US-Israeli operations as an ‘unprovoked act of armed aggression’ against Iran and stated it would demand that both countries ‘immediately cease their illegal and escalatory actions.’
In parallel communications, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi submitted a letter urging the Security Council to take immediate measures against what he termed ‘illegal aggression’ by the US and Israel. Araghchi warned that both nations ‘shall bear full and direct responsibility for all ensuing consequences,’ including potential escalation resulting from their actions.
The military confrontation escalated sharply when US and Israeli forces conducted strikes citing perceived threats from Iran, which responded with missile volleys directed toward Gulf states hosting US military installations and toward Israeli territory.