
In an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council last Sunday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned member countries not to escalate tensions further by retaliating against Iran for last Saturday’s unprecedented attack on Israel, Reuters reported.
Guterres condemned the attack and insisted that the United Nations would seek to hold Tehran accountable. He told the Security Council that the United Nations charter prohibited the use of force against the political independence and territorial integrity of any member state.
Iran launched hundreds of ballistic missiles and explosive drones on Israel last Saturday in retaliation for the April 1 targeted strike on an Iranian military compound next to its consulate in Damascus.
The strike killed 12 people, including two Quds Force commanders, a member of Hezbollah, and members of Iranian-backed militias in Syria.
Deputy US Ambassador Robert Wood urged the Security Council to condemn Iran’s attack, arguing that the 15-member body was obligated not to allow Tehran’s actions to go unanswered.
Wood said the US would consult with other members in the coming days to “explore additional measures to hold Iran accountable” at the UN. He warned that Iran would be “held responsible” if it or its proxies in the region take further action against Israel or any actions against the US.
Iran’s ambassador to the UN Amir Saeid Iravani defended last Saturday’s strike calling it necessary and proportionate. He insisted that Iran did not seek to escalate tensions nor did it seek to engage in conflict with the US. However, Iravani said Tehran had the right “to respond proportionately” if the United States initiated “military operations” against Iran.
Israeli ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan, who requested last Sunday’s Security Council meeting, accused Iran of violating international law and called on the Security Council to condemn the April 13 attack. He also urged the UN to designate the Revolutionary Guard Corps. a terrorist organization and reimpose sanctions on Iran.