Tehran, capital of Iran. UN: Iran strikes and retaliatory attacks undermine international peace and security Peace and Security
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the military escalation in the Middle East, including the use of force by the United States and Israel against Iran, as well as Iran’s subsequent retaliatory actions in the region. This statement was made today by the UN press service.
According to Guterres, what is happening undermines international peace and security.
The Secretary-General recalled that all states are obliged to comply with international law, including the UN Charter, which expressly prohibits “the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.”
He called for an immediate cessation of hostilities, warning that otherwise there was a risk of wider regional conflict with dire consequences for civilians and stability.
The UN chief also urged all parties to return to the negotiating table immediately.
“There is no viable alternative to the peaceful resolution of international disputes in full accordance with international law and the UN Charter,” – he emphasized.
The conflict will lead to “destruction on an unimaginable scale”
Chairman of the UN General Assembly Annalena Burbock, in turn, recalled the need to respect the UN Charter.
“The UN Charter is clear: all member states must resolve international disputes by peaceful means – in a manner that does not jeopardize international peace, security and justice,” she said. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said bombs and missiles are not a way to resolve differences but “lead only to death, destruction and human suffering.” Civilians, he noted, “ultimately pay the highest price.” World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he was deeply concerned about the situation and called on leaders to “choose the difficult path of dialogue instead of the senseless path of destruction.” The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it was closely monitoring developments in the Middle East and called for restraint to avoid nuclear safety risks. The IAEA is in constant contact with countries in the region, and there is no evidence of “any radiological impact yet.”
Emergency meeting of the Security Council
French President Emmanuel Macron convened an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the situation. The meeting is scheduled for 16:00 New York time.