The Security Council convened urgently following a stark warning from Secretary-General Antonio Guterres about the escalating tensions in the Middle East. Despite the polarized views among member states, there was a unanimous agreement that further escalation should be avoided at all costs.
Council President Vanessa Frazier emphasized the consensus among members to prevent any further escalation, echoing Guterres' call to step back from the brink of a potential conflict.
The meeting, prompted by Israel's request, centered on Iran's thwarted attack on Israel using missiles and drones. Amid exchanges of accusations between Israel and Iran, the US and Britain condemned Iran while Russia defended Tehran.
However, the Council failed to take concrete action due to its internal divisions, turning the meeting into a platform for expressing grievances rather than resolving the crisis.
Guterres stressed the urgency of de-escalating the situation to prevent a catastrophic conflict in the region. He urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from actions that could lead to widespread military confrontations.
The capture of the Israeli-owned ship by Iran was also discussed, with several countries calling for the release of the crew, including Indian nationals.
Israel's representative called for strong sanctions against Iran for its nuclear program and condemned the attack. Despite Israel's successful interception of most missiles and drones, it insisted on holding Iran accountable.
Iran's representative justified the attack as self-defense in response to previous actions by Israel, accusing the Council of inaction.
The US reiterated its support for Israel's right to self-defense but emphasized the need for Council condemnation to prevent further escalation.
Russia criticized the double standards of the US and its allies, accusing them of ignoring Israeli attacks while condemning Iran's actions.
The Council scheduled an open debate on the Palestine situation, highlighting the ongoing tensions and violence in the region.
In summary, while there was consensus on avoiding further escalation, the Security Council meeting highlighted the deep divisions and differing perspectives among member states regarding the situation in the Middle East.
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