Israel has called for fresh sanctions against Iran at an emergency meeting of the UNSC on Sunday. The meeting came after Iran launched a strike comprising over 300 drones and missiles on Israel early Sunday morning. Taking to X, Israeli ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan said, “Iran is the world’s biggest violator of human rights. She must no longer accept any position in the UN. And the Council must condemn Iranian terrorism, impose crippling sanctions on Iran and declare the “Revolutionary Guards” a terrorist organisation. Not for Israel, but for the whole world. Iran must be stopped now!”
In response to the Israeli statement, Iran’s UN envoy Amir Saeid Iravani stated in his statement released on X. “We demonstrated our commitment to peace by exercising our restraint about involving the US Army in intercepting Iranian drones and missiles bound for military targets in the occupied Palestinian territories. This underscores our dedication to de-escalating tensions and avoiding the expansion of conflict.” He warned that if the US “initiates military operations against Iran, its citizens, or its security and interests, Iran will use its inherent right to respond proportionately.”
In the meeting, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that “neither the region nor the world can afford more war.” In a report in the Guardian the UNSG was quoted as saying: “The Middle East is on the brink. The people of the region are confronting a real danger of a devastating full-scale conflict. Now is the time to defuse and de-escalate.”
The airstrike was Iran’s first direct attack on Israel to which President Biden has made clear to Netanyahu that though Washington would continue its “ironclad” support, the US would not take part in a strike against Tehran. Post the Iranian strike which caused minimal damage to Israel, Tel Aviv called for an emergency UNSC meeting. The US also called for a virtual meeting with G7 nations to discuss “diplomatic options” against Iran.
Israeli minister Benny Gantz said on Sunday that Israel is still weighing its response and will “exact the price from Iran in the fashion and timing that is right for us.”
