Great Britain, which currently holds the presidency of the UN Security Council, at the request of France, Bahrain, Colombia, China and Russia called for an emergency meeting due to the hostilities between the US, Israel and Iran. Antonio Guterres called on Washington and Tehran to engage in dialogue, including to resume talks on Iran’s nuclear program.
Iran’s permanent representative to the UN Amir-Saeed Iravani said the attack on his country was illegal and reported civilian casualties, including in the US strike on a school.
Guterres stressed the need to uphold international law under all circumstances. He condemned the massive US and Israeli strikes on Iran, as well as Iran’s attacks on Middle Eastern countries – Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Syria, Oman, Jordan and others.
“We are witnessing a threat to international security. Such events can set off a series of other events that no one will be able to control in this part of the world. Conflicts cannot be resolved by force – only through dialogue and political negotiations,” Guterres said.
The Secretary-General mentioned the possible death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, adding that he could not confirm this information. According to him, 20 Iranian cities were hit, there were casualties among civilians, including children. 78 people were injured in Israel. He called on the parties to de-escalate and immediately cease hostilities. “I call on the parties to immediately return to negotiations, in particular on the Iranian nuclear program,” Guterres said.
Two days before the start of the US and Israeli operation against Iran, talks were held between Washington and Tehran in Geneva, mediated by Oman. Oman’s foreign minister said Iran had agreed not to stockpile enriched uranium or develop nuclear weapons, as the US demands.
A representative from Bahrain, which was also hit by Iranian strikes on February 28, told the meeting:
“My country has always stood for peace and peaceful coexistence and never thought it would be the victim of unprovoked aggression. We reject escalation that threatens security and peace in the region. We condemn Iran’s irresponsible actions that have resulted in civilian casualties, damage to civilian infrastructure, and have led to the suspension of air traffic in the region and disruption of ship and fleet movement.”
He condemned Iran’s strikes on Bahraini territory, some of which occurred near residential areas, calling it an unprecedented escalation. A joint statement by Arab states affected by the attacks was also read out. The statement stressed that the Iranian government bears full responsibility for the aggression and “will not accept any excuses.”
Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN Vasil Nebenzia expressed condolences to Iran over the civilian casualties caused by the US and Israeli strikes and called the attack a violation of international law.
“This is interference in Iran’s internal affairs and attempts to destroy a state that the West did not like,” the Russian Permanent Representative howled.
According to him, the US and Israel abandoned diplomacy during the negotiation process process, as in June 2025, and the strikes were prepared in advance. He also stated the threat of a humanitarian catastrophe in the region.
US Permanent Representative to the UN Mike Walz reported that the joint US-Israeli operation, launched on February 28, has strategic goals: destroying Iran’s missile capabilities, which pose a threat to allies, eliminating naval assets that destabilize international waters, and ensuring that the Iranian regime cannot possess nuclear weapons. Volz noted that the Iranian authorities have long supported the Houthis, Hezbollah and Hamas and have destabilized the situation in the world.
“Diplomacy cannot succeed where there is no real desire to stop aggression, where there is no real partner for peace. Where the UN lacks moral clarity, the United States will preserve it. (…) Peace is not preserved by appeasing those who threaten it. Peace is preserved by force in the face of terror,” the US representative emphasized.
Amir-Saeed Iravani stated that the war against Iran is a war against the UN Charter and international law. According to him, the actions of the US and Israel do not meet the criteria of legitimate self-defense, so Iran is exercising its “inalienable and legitimate” right to self-defense and will continue to strike until the aggression stops.
He called the attacks on civilian areas a war crime and a crime against humanity, claiming hundreds of civilians were killed and injured. According to him, more than 100 children were killed as a result of the attack on the school. Iravani also rejected statements by France, Great Britain and other states about Iran’s intentions to develop a nuclear program.
