UN urges calm between Iran & Israel

Guterres addressed the United Nations Security Council on Friday afternoon during an emergency meeting. 

This comes amid the week-long conflict betwen Israel and Iran, which has seen Israel targeting Iran’s weaponry and nuclear sites. 

Iran and the United States were engaged in diplomatic talks to prevent Iran’s nuclear proliferation before Israel started firing missiles into Iran. Now the US President Donald Trump is considering joining Israel’s campaign against Iran. 

Iran has long been a financial backer of terrorist groups who repeatedly attacks Israel, including Hamas. Hamas carried out the largest terror attack against Israel on the 7th of October 2023, when they killed more than 1 200 people and abducted 250 people. The United States designated Iran as a State Sponsor of Terrorism in 1984. 

Amid the ongoing attacks multiple nations including Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and other European Nations, have withdrawn embassy staff from the nation. 

The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said his country is targeting all the nuclear facilities in Iran. Netanyahu has warned that Iran is close to obtaining a nuclear weapon - a message that rings hollow as he has made the same claim since 2005. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has a presence in Iran to monitor radio-active contamination due to bombing and to prevent the nuclear proliferation of Iran. 

In 2015 the United States and Iran signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) which would have ensured that Iran’s nuclear program would be peaceful and would have allowed inspectors from the IAEA to ensure Iran does not reach weapons grade enrichment of uranium. In return the US and European nations would provide sanctions relief on the country’s economy. 

However, in 2018, during President Trump’s first term, he withdrew from the deal and reimposed crippling sanctions on Iran. Trump claimed this was the worst deal that the US ever entered into and endangered the US’s national security. 

The Trump administration recently restarted talks with Iran to prevent the country from obtaining a nuclear weapon, but has since stalled. 

Foreign Ministers from Europe have met with their counterpart from Iran to relieve the pressure between Israel and Iran. 

Iran’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Saeid Iravani, said Israel deliberately targeted civilians. 

“Hundreds of civilians have been killed and thousands injured,” Iravani said.

“Just today the Israeli regime inflicted damage to two other hospitals in Iran endangering the lives of patients and medical personnel.” 

Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations accused Iran of a performance during the Security Council meeting. 

“Madame president, before I begin my remarks I must address the representative of the Islamic regime in Iran Mr Iravani, how dare you?

“How dare you you write five letters in the last week, come before this council demand the session and ask the international community for sympathy?"

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