The United Nations Security Council is set to hold an emergency meeting hours after the United States and Israel launched a massive military strike in Iran.
“The Security Council will hold an urgent briefing today under the agenda item, ‘Situation in the Middle East’. The Secretary-General is expected to brief,” the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs said in a statement, adding that the meeting would begin at 4pm Eastern.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the “use of force”, adding that the move was inconsistent with the UN Charter.
“I condemn today’s military escalation in the Middle East. The use of force by the United States and Israel against Iran, and Iran’s subsequent retaliation across the region, undermines international peace and security,” he said in a statement.
The first strikes on Saturday morning appeared to target the home of Iran’s 86-year-old Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in downtown Tehran. A source familiar with the matter previously told Reuters that Khamenei was not in Tehran and had been transferred to a safe location.
Tehran responded by firing missiles at Israel; Reuters reported that the explosions also occurred in the nearby oil-producing Gulf Arab states of the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar. Tehran has warned that it will attack the region if it is attacked.
The four other permanent members of the UN Security Council – China, Russia, France and the UK – all responded to the US attack on Saturday.
A statement from its foreign ministry said Russia, the US and Israel, which share several key strategic interests with Iran, had “started down a dangerous path”.
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“This is a deliberate, premeditated and unprovoked act of armed aggression against a sovereign and independent UN member state, in direct violation of the fundamental principles and norms of international law,” the statement said.
China’s foreign ministry said Beijing was “extremely concerned” by the attack on Iran, saying it must respect Iran’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity.
“China calls for an immediate cessation of military actions, no further escalation of the tense situation, resumption of dialogue and consultation, and efforts to uphold peace and stability in the Middle East,” the statement said.
French President Emmanuel Macron called the situation “dangerous”.
“The outbreak of war between the United States, Israel and Iran would have serious consequences for international peace and security,” he said.
British Prime Minister Keir Stormer said in a video statement that his country “played no role in these strikes”.
“But we have been clear for a long time – the regime in Iran is absolutely disgusting,” he said.
He said that the UK is strengthening its defense capability in the region in light of the current situation.
“Our forces are active and British aircraft are in the skies today as part of coordinated regional defense operations to protect our people, our interests and our allies – as Britain has done before, in accordance with international law,” he said.
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(tags to translate)Iran
