UN Security Council Meets as Global Leaders Call for Ceasefire in Middle East
The United Nations Security Council convened an emergency session on Sunday following the United States’ recent strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. As tensions escalate in the Middle East, China, Russia, and Pakistan have jointly proposed a resolution urging an immediate and unconditional ceasefire.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the council with a grave warning. “The bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities by the United States marks a perilous turn,” he said. “We must act—immediately and decisively—to halt the fighting and return to serious, sustained negotiations on the Iran nuclear program.”
The international community is anxiously awaiting Iran’s response to the strikes. President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. had “obliterated” key nuclear sites in Tehran, aligning with Israel in significant military action against Iran not seen since the country’s 1979 revolution.
China and Russia have openly condemned the U.S. actions. Fu Cong, China’s permanent representative to the UN, stated, “The U.S. move seriously violates the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law, as well as Iran’s sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity.” He emphasized China’s deep concern over the risk of the situation spiraling out of control and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities.
Russia’s representative, Vassily Nebenzia, drew parallels to past conflicts. “Again we’re being asked to believe the U.S.’s narratives, to once again inflict suffering on millions of people living in the Middle East,” he remarked, referencing the events leading up to the 2003 Iraq war. “This cements our conviction that history has taught our U.S. colleagues nothing.”
The United States, however, defended its actions. Acting U.S. Representative to the UN, Dorothy Shea, told the council that it was time for decisive action, suggesting that previous efforts had failed to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Iran, which requested the UN meeting, accused the U.S. and Israel of undermining diplomacy. Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran’s UN envoy, asserted that all U.S. allegations are unfounded and that international treaties have been manipulated into political weapons. “Instead of guaranteeing parties’ legitimate rights to peaceful nuclear energy, it has been exploited as a pretext for aggression and unlawful actions that jeopardize the supreme interests of my country,” Iravani said.
Israel’s UN envoy, Danny Danon, praised the U.S. for its stance against Iran, stating, “This is what the last line of defense looks like when every other line has failed.” He accused Iran of using negotiations as a cover to advance its missile programs and uranium enrichment.
Calls for de-escalation came from other global powers. France’s UN envoy, Jérôme Bonnafont, urged a return to negotiations, emphasizing that “only a negotiated diplomatic solution can allow for a lasting settlement to the Iranian nuclear issue.” The United Kingdom’s representative, Barbara Woodward, expressed concern over the risks to regional and international peace, stating that the foremost priority must be to support de-escalation.
The proposed resolution by China, Russia, and Pakistan requires at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes from any of the permanent members to pass. Council members have been asked to share their comments by Monday evening, but it remains unclear when a vote will take place.
