Joint strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran over the weekend, reportedly targeting military sites and Iranian leadership, have prompted condemnation from UN Secretary-General António Guterres as a grave threat to international peace and security. The attacks, which occurred following indirect US-Iran talks mediated by Oman, have been described by Guterres as having “squandered an opportunity for diplomacy,” according to a statement released Saturday.
The military action unfolded as explosions were reported in both Israel and Gulf countries after Iran launched a wave of drones and missiles in retaliation, as detailed by the UN. The attacks on Iran reportedly targeted both military infrastructure and figures within the Iranian regime.
While the UN Security Council convened an emergency meeting Saturday to address the escalating crisis, the United States and Israel defended their actions as lawful. US Ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz, asserted that the offensive was a necessary response, stating, “What we have is a moment in history that requires moral clarity… where the UN lacks moral clarity, the United States of America will maintain it,” as reported by NHK World. Israel’s UN Ambassador, Danny Danon, similarly justified the operation, framing it as a matter of “necessity” and “survival.”
The strikes have coincided with visible displays of public reaction within Iran. Following the reported killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday, reports emerged of celebrations in multiple Iranian cities, with citizens reportedly taking to balconies and streets, expressing a “rare mix of jubilation, fear and expectation.” The New York Times reported instances of fireworks and car horns, accompanied by shouts of “freedom, freedom.”
However, the future trajectory of these expressions of dissent remains uncertain. With no established leadership or organized opposition currently in place, pro-democracy Iranians may be waiting to assess the extent of damage inflicted upon the regime’s security forces, and potentially anticipating defections within those ranks – a possibility encouraged by President Trump in a video address. In January, protests in Iran resulted in the deaths of over 7,000 people, demonstrating the regime’s willingness to suppress dissent with force.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, condemned the use of force, stating that “bombs and missiles… only result in death, destruction and human misery,” and warned of “destruction on a potentially unimaginable scale” if the conflict were to broaden, according to the UN. Guterres has repeatedly called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and de-escalation, urging all parties to return to the negotiating table, particularly regarding Iran’s nuclear program.
The situation remains fluid, with the response of the Iranian population emerging as a critical factor. As Professor Ali Ansari of the University of St. Andrews noted to The Times of London, “A lot of assumptions will be tested in the next few weeks, but much will depend upon how the Iranian population reacts – that’s the key question.”
