Iran and Israel Accuse Each Other of Threatening Peace in UN Security Council Meeting

CNN Indonesia

Monday, 15 April 2024 10:04 IWST

Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —

Israel and Iran accusing each other of being a threat to peace in the Middle East at an emergency session of the Security Council (DK) PBBSunday (14/4).

Each country also called on the UN Security Council to impose sanctions on their arch enemy.

Israel’s ambassador to the UN called Iran the main sponsor of terrorism in the world which has shown its “true face” as the protector of the region and the world.

“(They) removed their masks and put on gloves,” Erdan said, calling on the UN Security Council to take action.

Erdan called on the Security Council to designate Iran’s Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization and “impose all sanctions against Iran before it is too late.”

In particular, he refers to the equipment “snap back” which allows member states of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal to reimpose international sanctions on Tehran. The agreement was abandoned by the United States in 2018.

“We have a common responsibility as members of the Security Council to ensure that Iran complies with the resolutions of the council and stops violations of the UN Charter,” said Deputy US Ambassador Robert Wood.

At the edge of the river

Iran itself said its attack on Saturday night (13/4) was in response to a deadly Israeli airstrike on its consulate building in Damascus, Syria, on April 1.

The attack killed seven Iranian Revolutionary Guards, including two major generals.

Addressing the emergency meeting, Iran’s UN Ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani, emphasized that they were exercising their “inherent right (as members of the UN) to defend themselves.”

“The Security Council… failed in its duty to maintain international peace and security,” Iravani said. Therefore, Iravani said, Iran has no choice but to respond, but Iran does not want an escalation in conflict or war.

Iravani also criticized Israel.

“It is time for the Security Council to take responsibility and address the real threats to international peace and security,” Iravani said.

He also said that the UN Security Council must take urgent measures to force the Israeli regime to stop the genocide in Gaza.

Since the Iranian revolution in 1979, Israel has been considered a mortal enemy. So far, Tehran has refrained from attacking Israel directly, and both countries have chosen to confront each other through third parties.

On Sunday, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, urged all countries to ban it.

At the emergency meeting, he also said that the Middle East region or the world could not afford a bigger war.

“Now is the time to de-escalate and de-escalate,” he said.

Guterres also expressed his condemnation of Iran’s attack on Israel, and the attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus.

“It is time to step back from shrinking,” Guterres said.

(AFP/vws)