U.n. Chief Condemns U.s.-israeli Attacks On Iran At Emergency Security Council Meeting

UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations’ main condemned nan U.S.-Israeli airstrikes connected Iran and called for an contiguous return to negotiations “to propulsion nan region, and our world, backmost from nan brink.”

Secretary-General António Guterres told an emergency gathering of nan U.N. Security Council connected Saturday that everything must beryllium done to forestall further escalation. “The alternative,” he warned, “is a imaginable wider conflict pinch sedate consequences for civilians and location stability.”

Guterres besides condemned Iran’s retaliatory attacks for violating nan sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and nan United Arab Emirates.

Israel’s U.N. ambassador, Danny Danon, speaking to reporters earlier nan meeting, said it was “hypocrisy” to condemn nan airstrikes. He said Iran is responsible for nan actions of its proxies successful nan Middle East and for its atomic and rocket programs, and Israel and nan U.S. acted “to forestall an irreversible and contiguous threat.”

The onslaught connected Iran killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to President Trump and Israeli officials. The assassination of nan 2nd leader of nan Islamic Republic, who has nary designated successor, would raise nan prospects of a prolonged conflict fixed Iranian threats of retaliation. Trump, successful reporting Khamenei’s decease connected societal media, called his passing “the azygous top chance for nan Iranian group to return backmost their Country.”

Iran arsenic of precocious Saturday denied that Khamenei had been killed.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, successful a missive to nan secretary-general, accused nan United States and Israel of “flagrantly” violating Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and nan U.N. charter. He said Iran was exercising its correct to self-defense nether nan charter successful response.

He urged nan assembly members “to return nan basal and contiguous measures to halt this unlawful usage of unit and to guarantee accountability.” And he called for an unequivocal condemnation of “this enactment of aggression … arsenic it undoubtedly poses an unprecedented threat to location arsenic good arsenic world bid and security.”

Five Security Council members — Bahrain, which is nan Arab typical connected nan council, France, Russia, China and Colombia — called for nan emergency meeting.

In a associated statement, nan leaders of Britain and France — some permanent, veto-wielding members of nan assembly — on pinch Germany’s chancellor called for a resumption of U.S.-Iranian talks connected Tehran’s atomic program. The 3 countries, portion of nan 2015 atomic woody pinch Iran, person led efforts to scope a negotiated solution. Trump pulled nan U.S. retired of nan woody successful 2018.

The 3 European leaders powerfully condemned Iranian airstrikes successful nan region — not nan U.S.-Israeli airstrikes — and urged Iran’s leaders to activity a negotiated solution, saying: “Ultimately, nan Iranian group must beryllium allowed to find their future.”

The Security Council gathering took spot connected nan past time of nan United Kingdom’s presidency and a time earlier nan United States takes complete nan rotating presidency for nan period of March.

Lederer writes for nan Associated Press.