S/PV.10112 Security Council

In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Israel to participate in this meeting. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I also invite His Excellency Mr. Maged A. Abdelaziz, Permanent Observer of the League of Arab States to the United Nations, to participate in this meeting. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I warmly welcome the Secretary-General, His Excellency Mr. António Guterres, and give him the floor.

I will speak directly to three areas today: the principles, the facts and the way out. First, regarding the principles, the Charter of the United Nations provides the foundation for the maintenance of international peace and security. Article 2 of the Charter clearly states that all Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State. International law and international humanitarian law must always be respected. That is why, since this morning, I have condemned the massive military strikes by the United States of America and Israel against the Islamic Republic of Iran. I also condemned the subsequent attacks by Iran violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. We are witnessing a grave threat to international peace and security. Military action carries the risk of igniting a chain of events that no one can control in the most volatile region of the world. Let me be clear: there is no viable alternative to the peaceful settlement of international disputes. Lasting peace can only be achieved through peaceful means, including genuine dialogue and negotiations. Secondly, with respect to the facts, the situation on the ground is very fluid. There are many unconfirmed reports. Here is what we know. Approximately 20 cities across Iran, including Tehran, Isfahan, Qom, Shahriar and Tabriz, have reportedly been attacked. In Tehran, large explosions were reported in the district that includes the presidential palace and the compound of the Supreme Leader. Several high- ranking officials have reportedly been killed, including — according to Israeli sources — Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei — I am not in a position to confirm this. Iran's airspace been closed, and the country is under a near-total Internet blackout. The attacks have reportedly caused significant civilian casualties. According to Iranian media, an air strike killed at least 85 people and injured many more at a girls’ school in Minab, Hormozgan Province, and a school in Tehran was also reportedly hit, causing two deaths. Military action is expanding rapidly across the region, creating an increasingly volatile and unpredictable situation and heightening the risk of miscalculation. According to Israeli sources, 89 people have been injured in Iran’s subsequent strikes on Israel, and there were also impacts in the occupied West Bank. Iran has announced that in reaction to United States and Israeli air strikes, it targeted United States military assets in the region. These strikes have reportedly hit civilian areas and infrastructure in the countries that I have already mentioned. The indirect impact of falling debris was also reported in Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic. Most Gulf States successfully intercepted the Iranian strikes. However, the United Arab Emirates reported that one civilian was killed by debris from an intercepted missile. In Iraq, there are reports of drone and missile attacks from both sides. There are also reports that Iran is closing the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping. The United States and Israeli attacks occurred following the third round of indirect talks between the United States and Iran, mediated by Oman. Preparations had been made for technical talks in Vienna next week, followed by a new round of political talks. I deeply regret that this opportunity for diplomacy has been squandered. Thirdly, the region and the world need a way out now. I call for de-escalation and an immediate cessation of hostilities. The alternative is a potential wider conflict with grave consequences for civilians and regional stability. I strongly urge all parties to return immediately to the negotiating table, notably on the Iran nuclear programme. I note that the United States President has reportedly talked with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Iran’s Minister for Foreign Affairs has reportedly spoken to his counterparts in Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Iraq, and everything must be done to prevent a further escalation. To this end, I call on all Member States to strictly uphold their obligations under international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, to respect and protect civilians in accordance with international humanitarian law and to ensure nuclear safety. Let us act responsibly and together to pull the region and our world back from the brink.

I thank the Secretary-General for his briefing. I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements.

I thank the Secretary-General of the United Nations, His Excellency Mr. António Guterres, for his comprehensive and insightful briefing. I would also like to thank the presidency of the Security Council for facilitating this meeting at such short notice. The President of the Republic, Mr. Emmanuel Macron, has called on the Council to address this issue as a matter of urgency, given the gravity of the situation we are facing. This region needs peace. To achieve that, it needs Iran to comply with its international obligations. We are very concerned about the outbreak of this new war among the United States, Israel and Iran. The current escalation is dangerous for everyone, and it must stop immediately. True to its principles and its commitment to the Charter of the United Nations, France calls for de-escalation and reiterates that respect for international law is a prerequisite for long-term stability and security in the region and the world. We condemn in the strongest terms the indiscriminate strikes carried out by Iran against several countries in the region. It is essential to ensure the protection of civilian lives. We express our solidarity with the countries affected — Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Kuwait and Qatar — and with our regional partners, and we are ready to deploy the necessary means to protect them if they request it. We are taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety of our nationals in the Middle East. Today’s events are unfolding against the backdrop of Iran’s pursuit of a destabilizing nuclear programme, in violation of its obligations under its comprehensive safeguards agreement and Council resolutions. For years now, despite the diplomatic efforts of France and its E3 partners, Iran has failed to seize the opportunity to reach an agreement on the peaceful framework for its nuclear programme. At the same time, Iran has reduced its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which has long been unable to guarantee the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear programme. For many months now, the Agency has had no access to the most sensitive sites of Iran’s nuclear programme. There is still no transparency regarding Iran’s stockpile of uranium enriched to 60 per cent, which is potentially enough to produce around 10 nuclear explosive devices. The situation is so serious that, in August 2025, we were forced to initiate the process of reinstating Security Council sanctions in response to Iran’s clear and persistent failure to comply with its commitments. Beyond its nuclear programme, Iran’s ballistic missile programme and regional activities also continue to be major sources of destabilization. Moreover, Iran is pursuing a policy aimed at systematically destabilizing the countries in the region through its support for its regional proxies, whether it be Hamas, Hizbullah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen or formerly the regime of Bashar Al-Assad in Syria. Lastly, we remain deeply concerned about the suffering of the Iranian people as a result of the systematic and brutal repression that they have endured for years. For several weeks now, they have been subjected to unjustifiable State violence because they had the courage to demonstrate in order to assert their aspirations for a better life and freedom. The Iranian people must be able to exercise their fundamental rights and freely decide their own destiny. On 28 September 2025, the Council’s resolutions on Iran’s nuclear programme were reinstated. These resolutions require Iran, inter alia, to suspend its uranium enrichment activities, cooperate with the IAEA and cease its ballistic activities. The Council must ensure the proper implementation of its resolutions, including by ensuring the functioning of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1737 (2006). It is important for Iran to finally engage in good-faith negotiations on issues relating to its nuclear and ballistic programmes and its regional activities. France, together with its E3 partners, has been working tirelessly for more than 20 years to find a negotiated diplomatic solution, which is the only way to resolve these issues in a sustainable manner. Together with our partners, we demonstrated in 2015, with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and resolution 2231 (2015), that an agreement was possible. Once again, today, the path of peaceful dispute resolution must prevail. We believe that an agreement is possible. To that end, it is time for Iran to seriously engage in negotiations to achieve this. We and our partners stand ready to seek a robust, verifiable and lasting agreement that guarantees that Iran will never equip itself with nuclear weapons. At this grave moment, the Council must unite to call for de-escalation, respect for international law and the search for a negotiated solution to restore lasting peace in the region.

At the outset, I would like to thank the Mission of the United Kingdom for its prompt response and for convening this meeting at this important time. I also extend our appreciation to His Excellency the Secretary-General for his detailed briefing and presentation on recent developments and their repercussions on regional and international peace and security. My country, which is an oasis for security and coexistence and a builder of bridges of peace in our region and the world, never expected to be targeted by cowardly, sinful and unjustified attacks. On behalf of the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain, my country strongly condemns the treacherous missile attacks targeting vital sites, facilities and residential areas within the borders of the Kingdom of Bahrain on Saturday, launched from the Islamic Republic of Iran, which in turn officially claimed responsibility for these cowardly attacks. These acts constitute a violation of the Kingdom’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and the security of its people. They constitute a direct and unjustified attack that flagrantly violates international law and the Charter of the United Nations, while posing a serious threat to regional and international peace and security. The Kingdom of Bahrain condemns in the strongest of terms these dangerous acts of aggression, which mark an irresponsible escalation, and affirms that the targeting of its territory, vital infrastructure and residential buildings is an act of aggression that is wholly unacceptable and will not be tolerated or overlooked. What the Kingdom of Bahrain is experiencing today cannot be separated from the series of missile attacks that have targeted a number of sisterly countries in the region in recent hours, including the United Arab Emirates, the State of Kuwait, the State of Qatar and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and sites in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Syrian Arab Republic. These grave developments reflect a widespread pattern of escalation targeting the system of collective security. The Kingdom of Bahrain affirms that these attacks constitute a blatant violation of the prohibition of the threat or the use of force against the territorial integrity of States, as laid out in Article 2, paragraph 4, of the Charter of the United Nations. The Kingdom holds the Iranian Government responsible for these attacks and rejects any justifications or explanations aimed at legitimizing this aggressive conduct or at circumventing the rules of international law. While reaffirming its unwavering commitment to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, the Kingdom of Bahrain reserves its full and inherent right to respond in a manner commensurate with the nature and scale of these cowardly attacks and to take all necessary measures to restore security and stability and protect its territory, citizens and residents, in accordance with Article 51 of the United Nations Charter and international law, in coordination with its allies and partners. The Kingdom of Bahrain calls on the Security Council to fully assume its responsibilities in confronting these serious violations and to take a firm stance in responding to these acts of aggression and preventing their recurrence, thereby ensuring regional and international security and stability. Allow me now to deliver a statement on behalf of the countries of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC), namely, the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Sultanate of Oman, the State of Qatar, the State of Kuwait and my country, the Kingdom of Bahrain, and on behalf of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Syrian Arab Republic. First, on behalf of the GCC countries and Jordan and Syria, I would like to thank you once again for your response to this request, Mr. President, and to thank the Secretary-General for his briefing. As we explained in the letter addressed to him today, several treacherous Iranian missile attacks today targeted the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Sultanate of Oman, the State of Qatar, the State of Kuwait, my country — the Kingdom of Bahrain — the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Syrian Arab Republic, in flagrant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of these countries, directly undermining their security and blatantly contravening the principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations. This unacceptable escalation threatens the security and stability of the region. These brutal and irresponsible acts by Iran have also injured a number of these countries’ citizens and residents on their territories, killed at least one civilian, caused severe damage to civilian facilities and infrastructure and disrupted air traffic in a number of GCC countries’ airspace, while threatening to disrupt international maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz in violation of international law, and entails far-reaching international economic consequences. The GCC States affirm that these attacks constitute a clear violation of the prohibition on the threat or the use of force against the territorial integrity of States, as laid out in Article 2, paragraph 4, of the Charter. We hold the Government of Iran fully responsible for these attacks and reject any justification or explanation aimed at legitimizing this aggressive conduct or at circumventing the rules of international law. We underscore that Article 51 of the Charter does not in any way justify such cowardly attacks. The GCC States express their condemnation and denunciation in the strongest terms of this brutal Iranian aggression and affirm that the targeting of civilians and civilian objects is reprehensible and unacceptable by all legal and humanitarian standards. They reaffirm their full solidarity with, and stand by, the sisterly States that have been targeted, while stressing that the security of those States is indivisible and that any violation of their sovereignty violates the security and stability of the entire region. At the same time, the GCC States warn against the dire consequences of a continuation of this unacceptable escalation. These Iranian attacks are antithetical to the principles of good neighbourliness and cannot be countenanced under any justification or pretext. We affirm our categorical rejection of the use of the territories of the countries of the region as an arena for settling scores or widening the conflict, after the efforts made by the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Jordan and the countries of the region to facilitate dialogue between Iran and the international community, address differences and resolve disputes through peaceful means so as to spare the region from the risks of escalation. While the GCC countries affirm their unwavering commitment to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, they reserve their full and inherent right to defend themselves in accordance with Article 51 of the Charter, to respond to this blatant targeting in a manner commensurate with the nature of the aggression and in accordance with the rules of international law and to take all necessary measures to restore security and stability and protect their territories, peoples and residents in a manner that preserves their sovereignty, security, stability and national interests. In conclusion, the GCC countries appreciate all the clear positions taken in support of the sovereignty and security of our countries. They call on the Security Council to assume all of its responsibilities in confronting these grave violations by Iran and to take a firm stance in condemning and responding to these unjustified, irresponsible and hostile acts and preventing their recurrence, thereby ensuring regional and international security and stability. They reiterate their call for action to contain the crisis in a manner that preserves the security of the region, safeguards the interests of its peoples and prevents a slide into wider confrontations.

We thank the Secretary- General for his briefing. First of all, we would like to express our strong objection to the fact that today’s meeting is being held under the agenda item “The situation in the Middle East”. We wish to recall that Russia and China requested that it be held under the item “Threats to international peace and security”. That request was also set out in the relevant letter from our Iranian colleagues. The aggression that Iran is facing today threatens to escalate in a region already experiencing escalation and could spread far beyond its borders, especially as one of the two instigators of this military adventure is far from being a regional State. Attempts by the British presidency to artificially downplay the extent of the danger of the current situation are simply unacceptable. The presidency also grossly scorned the request by Russia and China to invite Columbia University Professor Jeffrey Sachs as a briefer at today’s meeting. Normally, our British colleagues do everything they can to assert the importance of inviting representatives of civil society to Security Council meetings. That clearly does not apply to cases in which internationally recognized academics are going to present a truth that is unacceptable to Western Governments. In recent hours, we have witnessed another extremely dangerous ratcheting up of escalation in the Middle East. Early in the morning of 28 February, the United States and Israel began launching massive military strikes on the territory of Iran. It was publicly declared that one of the targets of the attack was the country’s senior political leadership, in addition to civilian nuclear facilities. In real time, we are getting reports from the Iranian authorities about casualties, including among the civilian population. More than 200 people have died in 24 provinces of the country. We were particularly grieved to learn of the strike on a girls’ school in Minab, where it is reported that 85 children were killed. We express our sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims, and we wish a speedy recovery to the injured. Our country is doing everything necessary to ensure the safety and security of Russian citizens who are currently in the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The actions taken by Washington and West Jerusalem are nothing more than yet another unprovoked act of armed aggression against a sovereign and independent State Member of the United Nations, in violation of the Charter of the United Nations and of the fundamental principles of international law. Such actions are openly aimed at further interfering in Iran’s internal affairs and at destroying a State that has found disfavour with the West. As we warned previously, this reckless move by the United States and Israel has triggered a sharp escalation of the situation throughout the region, affecting Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Syria and Saudi Arabia. These are the countries that have repeatedly told their American partners that they do not need this escalation in the Middle East. Moreover, the military operation by the United States and Israel has truly been a betrayal of diplomacy. Yet again, these countries are bringing to bear military force against Iran at the very height of negotiations, just as they did in June 2025. As recently as the day before yesterday, on 26 February, Geneva hosted the most recent round of talks between the United States and Iran, facilitated by Oman. The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iran, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, noted that an agreement had been reached to continue the dialogue. For our part, we underscore that the Russian side has repeatedly received signals that the Israelis have no interest in a military confrontation with Iran. And then, despite Tehran’s willingness to engage in the diplomatic process, it is once again stabbed in the back. Moreover, the fact that Washington has been building up its military presence in the region for such a long time and methodically only confirms the fact that the aggression against Iran was planned in advance. The actions of the United States and Israel risk triggering a humanitarian and economic catastrophe. Of particular concern, once again, are the threats to nuclear and radiological safety and security. The statements made today by the President of the United States, Donald Trump, to the effect that this operation is aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, are not justified. Tehran has consistently stated that it does not have any such plans and that it is fulfilling its obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Moreover, Iran has repeatedly underscored its readiness to make the preservation of its status as a non-nuclear-weapon State the basis of new agreements with the United States, provided that the legitimate right of Iran, as a State party to the NPT, to develop peaceful nuclear technologies is respected and upheld. Against this backdrop, we deem completely unfounded the Western countries’ attempts to justify the United States-Israeli aggression by citing alleged threats to international peace and security supposedly emanating from the Iranian nuclear programme. Here, we must recall that the only source of reliable information in this regard are the relevant reports of the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and those reports have never indicated that Iran may be engaging in the development of a nuclear weapon. The facilities against which strikes are being launched are under the Agency’s safeguards, which means that they cannot, a priori, be used for any such activities. Against this backdrop, we expect that the IAEA Director General, Rafael Grossi, will provide unambiguous assessments and will condemn this latest undermining by the United States and Israel of the NPT’s authority and of the global non-proliferation regime as a whole. Under no circumstances can nuclear facilities, including the Bushehr nuclear power plant, be the target of strikes by armed forces. That is unacceptable. We note that today’s events were the latest phase of consistent escalatory steps taken by Western countries against Iran. Those steps include the United States-Israeli strikes on the country’s territory in June 2025 and the open interference by the United States and its allies in the domestic political situation in Iran in January. We also remember the failed attempts by the United Kingdom, France and Germany to trigger the mechanism to reinstate the effect of anti-Iran Security Council resolutions, the so- called snapback mechanism. However, that did not happen, owing to the efforts of Russia and a number of other States Members of the United Nations, which repeatedly and exhaustively explained the reasons why the United Kingdom, France and Germany did not have the right to invoke that mechanism. However, that did not work, and the United States and Israel once again have brought military force to bear. There are obvious parallels with the events of 2003, when United States representatives tried to justify the United States’ invasion of Iraq by waving around a test tube in this very Chamber, alleging that there were weapons of mass destruction present there that no one ever found. In 2023, future United States Vice-President J. D. Vance said that the Iraq campaign was unforced, that innocent Iraqis and Americans died as a result of it and that Washington needed to learn that lesson. However, as it turns out, that lesson has not yet been learned. In the statements of our European colleagues — and we will hear more of them today — we do not hear condemnations of the aggression or of the deaths of many Iranian civilians. What we hear instead is, for example, the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, saying that “the Iranian regime must understand that it now has no other option but to engage in good-faith negotiations to end its nuclear and ballistic programmes, as well as its actions to destabilize the region.” Similar assessments were voiced by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer. These absurd statements were then backed up by a joint statement by the leaders of the United Kingdom, France and Germany condemning only Iran’s strikes on countries in the region. I ask Council colleagues to just think for a moment. This sort of reaction is coming at a time when Iran has been subject to military attack at the peak of an active negotiating process. The hypocrisy of our European colleagues knows no bounds. These are not even double standards. It is a parallel reality on the other side of the looking glass. In the English language, there is an ideal term to describe the situation: victim-blaming. One gets the impression that London, Paris and Berlin are living within illusions that they have created for themselves and are broadcasting those illusions to the world. However, attempts to mislead the international community are doomed to fail; any sane person is perfectly aware of who is responsible for the latest unchecked escalation. We demand that the United States and Israel immediately cease their aggressive actions. There are no and will never be any alternatives to a peaceful and diplomatic resolution of the Iranian issue, including its nuclear component. We insist on the immediate resumption of political and diplomatic settlement efforts in pursuit of solutions based on international law, mutual respect and a balance of interests. Russia stands ready to provide all necessary support for such efforts.

I thank Secretary-General António Guterres for his briefing and support his call for de-escalation and a return to diplomatic negotiations. Today the United States and Israel brazenly launched military strikes against targets inside Iran, causing a sudden escalation of regional tensions. China is deeply concerned about this development. China consistently advocates that all parties should abide by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and opposes and condemns the use or threat of use of force in international relations. China stresses that the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of Iran and other regional countries must be respected. China is deeply saddened by the large number of civilian casualties caused by the conflict. The red line protecting civilians in armed conflict must never be crossed, and the indiscriminate use of force is unacceptable. China calls on all parties to fulfil their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, effectively ensure the safety of civilians and avoid attacks on civilian facilities. The use of force is not the right way to settle international disputes. It only intensifies hatred and confrontation. The escalation and spillover of tensions in the Middle East serve no one’s interests. Dialogue and negotiations are the only way to resolve differences. China calls for an immediate cessation of military actions to prevent further cycles of escalation. The military strikes occurred at a time when the United States and Iran were engaged in diplomatic negotiations, which is shocking. The parties concerned should demonstrate political sincerity, resume dialogue and negotiations as soon as possible, and return to the right track of a political solution. China stands ready to work with the international community to advance peace efforts and help restore peace and stability in the Middle East at an early date.

I would like to thank the United Kingdom, in its capacity as President of the Security Council, for promptly convening this emergency meeting at the request of several countries, including Colombia. We would also like to thank the Secretary-General for the information shared and welcome the delegations participating in this meeting. Colombia is taking the floor guided by a fundamental conviction that the protection of human life must always be at the centre of international decisions and by an equally clear conviction that the Charter of the United Nations is binding. Colombia reaffirms its unequivocal defence of international law and the purposes and principles of the Charter: international peace and security; the peaceful settlement of disputes; the prohibition of the use or threat of use of force; the sovereign equality of States; respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of all States; and non-intervention. We are facing a serious military escalation that threatens to spill over into a regional confrontation with unpredictable consequences. The use of force and the logic of reprisals are replacing diplomacy, dialogue and the rule of law. In view of this alarming situation, we condemn any military action contrary to the Charter, regardless of who carries it out. Our country has been consistent in this Organization and in the Council: no State can unilaterally claim the right to attack another in order to impose regime change. That principle does not depend on who the actor is, as it is a pillar of the international order. The prohibition of the use or the threat of use of force enshrined in the Charter does not allow for selective interpretations. When that principle is violated, it is not international security that prevails, but rather the law of the strongest. When force replaces law, the international order is weakened, and barbarism takes its place, and the first to lose are civilians. Colombia condemns the attacks and stands in solidarity with the peoples of Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Kuwait. Colombia expresses its deep concern about the human cost of this escalation. The bombings are exposing entire communities to fear and risk, including children. No military objective can justify, under any circumstances, civilians being caught in the crossfire or becoming victims of indiscriminate attacks. The protection of life must be our highest priority. Life cannot be collateral damage. In this regard, we strongly condemn the reported attacks against civilians and civilian property in clear violation of international humanitarian law, in particular the principle of distinction, and we call for the immediate cessation of hostilities. Strict compliance with international law and international humanitarian law is not optional. The protection of civilians is a legal and moral obligation. For the above reasons, Colombia prioritizes dialogue and the peaceful resolution of disputes, not because we are naive but out of experience, because we know that war does not resolve conflicts; on the contrary, it exacerbates them, makes them more cruel, perpetuates them and passes them on to future generations. Defending international law does not mean ignoring reality. Iran has international obligations that it must fully comply with, in particular in the areas of nuclear power and human rights. With regard to Iran’s nuclear programme, full, effective and transparent cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is essential. We therefore call on Iran to return to the path of dialogue and negotiations in good faith with a view to ensuring unrestricted access to nuclear facilities subject to monitoring and verification and to resolving outstanding safeguards issues under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Colombia reaffirms the universal goal of general and complete nuclear disarmament and, in that context, insists that Iran’s nuclear programme must remain exclusively for peaceful purposes and in compliance with its international obligations. Collective security is not built with more weapons but with more guarantees. We also join the IAEA’s urgent call for the parties to exercise restraint in the use of force, in particular against nuclear facilities, given the enormous risks that such actions represent. Furthermore, Iran has an obligation to respect and guarantee the human rights and fundamental freedoms of its population, which are not a concession of the State but rights inherent to human dignity. However, we also state with equal firmness that Iran’s failure to comply in these areas cannot serve as justification for unilaterally carrying out military attacks against a State. The full implementation of the Charter is essential for the credibility of multilateralism and the preservation of the international order. International peace and security cannot be built by violating the sovereignty or territorial integrity of States, nor through reprisals. It is built through rules and dialogue. Colombia calls on all parties to exercise restraint and de-escalate, to urgently return to diplomacy, to strictly respect international law and to strengthen existing multilateral mechanisms. It is a priority to move towards a framework for regional dialogue that will enable us to address the causes of instability in the Middle East. We therefore propose the convening of a peace conference for the region, under the auspices of the United Nations, with a view to achieving sustainable political solutions. War is not inevitable; it is a political decision, but so is peace. Today, the real responsibility of the international community, and of the Council, is to choose peace, assuming with historical responsibility its primary mandate to preserve international peace and security. The United Nations cannot fail to meet the gravity of this moment. We must choose to stop the destruction before it becomes irreversible and make room for diplomacy before it is too late.

This is a moment in history that requires moral clarity, and President Trump has met the moment. The most fundamental duty of any sovereign government is the protection of its people. Operation Epic Fury is directed towards specific and strategic objectives: to dismantle missile capabilities that threaten allies, to degrade naval assets used to destabilize international waters, to disrupt the machinery that arms proxy militias and to ensure the Iranian regime can never ever threaten the world with a nuclear weapon. As President Trump said last night, for decades, the Iranian regime has wilfully destabilized the world. It has killed American forces and citizens, threatened regional allies and jeopardized the security of international shipping upon which the world depends. Its massive support for violent proxies, declared terrorist organizations — the Houthis, Hizbullah, Hamas and others — has brought bloodshed and disorder across the Middle East for far too long. This is not speculation; we know this to be true, and our men and women have paid for the actions of this regime and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) with their lives. No responsible nation can ignore persistent aggression and violence. The regime in Tehran has led attacks that have cost American lives — hundreds of United States Marines in Lebanon, thousands of troops in Iraq, American hostage after hostage has suffered, our ships fired upon dozens of times in the Red Sea. Iran has armed and financed militant organizations that undermine lawful governments and destabilize an already fragile region. Iran’s continued pursuit of advanced missile capabilities, coupled with its refusal to abandon nuclear ambitions despite diplomatic opportunities, presents a grave and mounting danger. The international community has long affirmed a simple and necessary principle: Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. That principle is not a matter of politics; it is a matter of global security. And to that end, the United States is taking lawful actions. This body, the Security Council, has acted repeatedly on this threat. Twenty years ago, starting in 2006, resolution 1696 (2006) demanded that Iran suspend all uranium enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, invoking Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations and adopting a legally binding resolution. When Iran failed to comply, the Council followed with resolution 1737 (2006), imposing mandatory sanctions, including bans on nuclear-related materials and technology, asset freezes on key individuals and entities linked to their nuclear programme and the establishment of a sanctions committee. Subsequent resolutions — resolution 1747 (2007), on expanded arms embargoes and asset freezes; resolution 1803 (2008), on tightened restrictions on dual-use goods and calling for inspections of Iranian cargo; resolution 1835 (2008), reaffirming the need for full compliance; and resolution 1929 (2010), which was the most comprehensive, banning ballistic missile activities, tightening the conventional arms embargo, targeting the IRGC and shipping lines and prohibiting new Iranian banking relationships — built a robust multilateral framework to curb Iran’s nuclear and missile pursuits. These measures, again, adopted under Chapter VII, represented the world’s collective judgment that Iran’s actions posed a threat to international peace and security. And despite numerous opportunities for an alternative path, Iran remained defiant, and, on 19 September 2025, the Security Council decided to restore these measures, snapback sanctions, sending a clear message that the world will not acquiesce to threats and half-measures and that Tehran would be held to account (see S/PV.10001). On top of these actions by the United Nations, American diplomacy was attempted repeatedly and in good faith. President Trump, Secretary Rubio and our Special Envoys Witkoff and Kushner were relentlessly dedicated to diplomacy. But diplomacy cannot succeed where there is no genuine willingness to cease aggression, where there is no genuine partner for peace. As President Trump said today, speaking directly to the Iranian people, “[t]o the proud great people of Iran, I saw tonight that the hour of your freedom is at hand”. The entire world has witnessed the regime’s wholesale slaughter of innocent civilians. The sad irony is that this same regime will attempt to lecture us today about human rights and the rule of law. Its presence here in the Council makes a mockery of this body. But where the United Nations lacks moral clarity, the United States of America will maintain it. Indiscriminate and unprovoked attacks by the Iranian regime today against our regional partners — Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan and others — reinforce precisely why such actions are necessary. The regime has not only struck military assets but civilian infrastructure as well. Those who stand with us must know that their security is not negotiable. The safety of our allies is not conditional; it is assured. The bottom line is this: our allies and partners can count on the United States and can count on President Trump. Peace is not preserved by appeasing those who threaten it. Peace is preserved through strength in the face of terror. History has taught us that the cost of inaction is far greater than the burden of decisive action. And our President, President Trump, has taken that decisive action today.

I thank the United Kingdom presidency for convening the Council for this urgent meeting following the latest developments in the Middle East. I also wish to thank the Secretary-General for his statement. Today’s developments are deeply concerning and pose the risk of further destabilizing an already volatile situation at a time of heightened tensions in the Middle East. Let me reiterate our deep concern about Iran’s unacceptable behaviour related to its nuclear programme, its ballistic missiles, its destabilizing activities in the region and beyond and its violent crackdown and repression against its own people. As a consequence, the European Union, with Denmark’s active support, has adopted strong sanctions against Iran, just as we have always promoted diplomatic efforts to address the nuclear and ballistic programmes through a negotiated solution. I also wish to express Denmark’s condemnation of Iran’s attacks today on countries of the region. This must stop immediately. We express our full solidarity with our partners in the region under attack. At this critical juncture, de-escalation is imperative. A broader regional escalation would have devastating consequences for the Middle East and for international peace and security. We call for maximum restraint and respect for international law, including international humanitarian law. What is needed is for diplomatic efforts to reduce tension and for the negotiations to resume in good faith as the only viable, lasting solution to the Iranian nuclear issue. Iran must never be allowed to develop or acquire a nuclear weapon. This is essential for regional and international security. Finally, for years now, we have heard the Iranian people calling for dignity, for opportunity and for their fundamental rights to be respected. For too long, the authorities in Tehran have failed to heed these calls. We call on Iran to refrain from further attacks, give up its weapons programme and meaningfully engage with the international community in a manner consistent with its international obligations and the will and aspirations of its own citizens.

I would like to thank the Secretary-General for his sobering presentation and assessment of the unfolding situation in the Middle East after concerning developments in the region. We concur with his view that there is no viable alternative to a peaceful settlement. Pakistan condemns the initiation of unwarranted attacks against the Islamic Republic of Iran, in violation of international law. Yet again, these attacks come at a time when renewed diplomatic efforts were under way to reach a peaceful and negotiated solution. Such a course of action will undermine the peace and stability of the entire region, with far-reaching consequences. Pakistan also condemns the attacks against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, stands in solidarity with all these brotherly countries and underscores the need to exercise maximum restraint. This is extremely unfortunate since several brotherly Arab countries were in fact supporting dialogue and emphasizing the need to avoid escalation. We particularly laud Oman’s role in facilitating and mediating dialogue between Iran and the United States. These unprovoked attacks therefore constitute blatant violations of the sovereignty of the brotherly Gulf States. Pakistan also condemns the unfortunate death of a Pakistani national in the United Arab Emirates during this dastardly attack. We urge all sides to refrain from any further actions that may undermine the security and territorial integrity of other regional countries. We regret the fact that diplomacy has once again been derailed, as these attacks have happened right in the middle of negotiations. These military actions undermine dialogue and further erode trust that was already in short supply. We offer our condolences and sympathies to the civilians caught in the middle of these violent acts. Our thoughts go out to the schoolchildren in Iran and many civilians elsewhere, as well as the family of the Pakistani national who was killed during the attacks on the United Arab Emirates earlier today. The purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations are inviolable and sacrosanct. The Charter prohibits the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of States. Pakistan reiterates the call for full respect for international law, including the United Nations Charter, as well as international humanitarian law. We are deeply alarmed at the risk of regional conflagration. The safety and well-being of millions of our compatriots in the countries of the region are also top priorities for Pakistan. Pakistan is maintaining close contact and coordination with brotherly neighbouring countries, including at the leadership level. We are ready to extend our support towards the peaceful resolution of outstanding issues. Pakistan has consistently advocated the primacy of the peaceful resolution of disputes and the imperative of avoiding confrontation and conflict in a region already beset by tensions and volatility, as the Secretary-General also noted. Diplomacy and dialogue should be the guiding principles for achieving a negotiated settlement of all contentious issues, in accordance with the rights, obligations and responsibilities of the parties concerned. Pakistan calls on all sides to immediately halt the escalation and urgently resume diplomacy, with a view to achieving a peaceful, negotiated resolution to this crisis.

I thank you, Mr. President for convening this meeting at such short notice. I would also like to thank the Secretary-General for his briefing and messages on respecting the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and his call for de-escalation and the peaceful settlement of the situation. We express our deep concern following today’s escalation. Our aim should be to return to substantial negotiations towards a peaceful settlement, in line with international law and the United Nations Charter. As the Security Council meets in this critical moment, we would like to stress the following. First, restraint is imperative. The risk of a wider regional confrontation, with potentially grave consequences for international peace and security, is real. Absent a swift diplomatic solution, we might now face the consequences of a prolonged crisis. All parties must therefore exercise restraint, prevent a further spiral of violence and work urgently to reopen credible channels of dialogue. Our Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs are in constant contact with our partners in the region. We strongly condemn the Iranian strikes in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Secondly, Greece has consistently expressed its strong concern regarding Iran’s nuclear programme. Iran must never be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon. The accumulation of significant quantities of uranium enriched up to 60 per cent by a non- nuclear-weapon State raises serious proliferation concerns and has no credible civilian justification. Full cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency and strict adherence to international obligations are indispensable. It is widely believed that strong, permanent and verifiable oversight on Iran’s nuclear and ballistic programmes is a precondition for stability in the region. Diplomacy grounded in verification and transparency remains the only sustainable path forward. Thirdly, maritime security in the Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea must be fully respected by all sides, even more so now than ever. Stability is of the utmost importance. We urge Iran and its allies in the region to refrain from any retaliatory action that could endanger freedom of navigation, threaten commercial shipping or further destabilize global energy and trade flows, constituting a blatant violation of the international law of the sea, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Fourthly, the protection of civilians and respect for international law must remain absolute priorities. Adherence by all Member States to the United Nations Charter, international humanitarian law and international human rights law becomes even more critical. Civilians must not bear the cost of military escalation. The humanitarian consequences of further confrontation could be severe. In conclusion, the stakes for regional and global peace are exceptionally high. We urge Iran to immediately engage in meaningful and good-faith negotiations with a view to achieving a durable negotiated solution. Dialogue and diplomatic engagement aimed at restoring stability and providing credible security assurances for all concerned must prevail. Failure is not an option.

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the three African members of the Security Council (A3), namely the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia and my own country, Somalia. We thank the presidency for promptly convening this emergency meeting on the situation in the Middle East. The A3 thanks the Secretary-General for his thorough update on this worrisome and rapidly evolving development in the Middle East and its implications for international peace and security. We also echo the Secretary- General’s message on today’s military escalation in the Middle East. We welcome the representative of Iran to this meeting. The A3 aligns itself with the statement on the United States-Iran military escalation issued on 28 February 2026 by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, His Excellency Mr. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf. The reported military strikes carried out by the United States in coordination with Israeli forces against targets inside the Islamic Republic of Iran and Iran’s subsequent response represent a perilous and deeply troubling escalation — one that marks a serious intensification of hostilities in the Middle East and threatens to engulf the entire region in an uncontrollable cycle of violence, suffering and pain. The A3 condemns the missiles and drone attacks carried out by Iran against the sovereign territories of Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The A3 reiterates that all Member States must respect their obligations under international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, which prohibits the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations. These actions risk further destabilizing the Middle East and underscore the urgent imperative to safeguard broader peace and internal stability, particularly as the geographic scope of military activity expands beyond the initial parties to the conflict. The A3 remains steadfast in its commitment to the fundamental principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations. At the same time, the A3 recognizes the concerns of all States in the region, which must be addressed through dialogue and peaceful means in accordance with international law and the United Nations Charter. We believe that all Member States share a responsibility to act in accordance with these commitments and that these are essential foundations for international cooperation and peaceful coexistence. The A3 calls for restraint, urgent de-escalation and sustained dialogue. All parties must act fully in accordance with international law and the United Nations Charter to safeguard international peace and security. Our position underscores the importance of dialogue, the peaceful settlement of disputes and respect for international law. It is important for all parties to exercise restraint and responsibility, uphold international law and avoid any actions that could escalate tensions or threaten regional peace and stability. The A3 stresses that the spillover effects of these hostilities imperil countless lives and threaten to deepen existing crises. The A3 expresses its solidarity with the people of the region and reiterates the African Union’s commitment to peace, stability and mutual respect among nations and regions. In this regard, the A3 urges all parties to prioritize diplomatic engagement, including the ongoing international mediation efforts facilitated by the Sultanate of Oman, to prevent further deterioration and uphold the international rules-based order. At this critical juncture, the A3 calls for a swift return to the path of negotiations as the only viable means to reach a sustainable agreement regarding the Iranian nuclear programme. Sustainable peace can be achieved only through diplomacy, not through force. The A3 strongly reaffirms the urgent necessity of establishing a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, applicable to all States in the region without exception, in accordance with the relevant international resolutions. We also stress the need for all Middle Eastern countries to accede to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons as a step towards regional and global security. We emphasize the paramount importance of protecting civilians and civilian infrastructure, including in the context of cross-border strikes and retaliatory actions, and of refraining from targeting nuclear facilities, which are under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards, in line with the relevant IAEA resolutions and decisions of the Security Council. The A3 reaffirms its commitment to multilateralism and the principles of the United Nations Charter. We urge all parties to act with responsibility and wisdom, while placing the well-being of the region’s people above all other considerations. It is important to seize this moment to redouble our efforts for de-escalation and to support a diplomatic process that can deliver peace, stability and security for all States in the Middle East. The A3 stands ready to support all efforts within the Council, in cooperation with regional and international partners, to facilitate a peaceful, inclusive and lasting solution to the situation in the Middle East.

We thank the presidency for convening this meeting and acknowledge the presence of the representatives of the countries honouring us with their participation. We also thank Secretary-General António Guterres for his remarks at this meeting. Less than a year ago, we found ourselves in this same setting, deliberating on events akin to those we are discussing at this meeting and which, because they are now still unfolding, prevent us from fully grasping their scope and consequences. Nonetheless, we must ask ourselves whether the repetition of these acts can really lead to different outcomes and a sustainable solution, or whether, on the contrary, the aggressive cycle of tit-for-tat attacks will entail only an escalation of violence, with increasingly grave and unpredictable consequences, to the detriment of international peace and security. We recall that in January we considered the events connected to Iran’s brutal and disproportionate use of force against its population (see S/PV.10091), who were legitimately exercising their right to protest, which resulted, according to estimates by non-governmental organizations and independent media outlets, in the deaths of thousands. These precedents are indicative of a delicate situation in the country and in the region. They constitute a clear and alarming warning of the potential consequences of an escalation in armed conflict. The Republic of Panama notes with grave concern the serious nature of the recent events, which could trigger a regional conflict, with grave direct repercussions for neighbouring countries — repercussions akin to those just suffered by Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Panama deems those repercussions regrettable. This scenario must be avoided, especially given that the Middle East has already been seriously affected by various crises in recent years. The ramifications of those crises could extend beyond the region and adversely affect the rest of the world, with incalculable consequences. The escalation of tensions will only increase instability and suffering, affecting the most vulnerable populations, which are always the first to bear the brunt of conflicts. The uncertain and dangerous scenario that we are facing reminds us that it is essential to guarantee the protection of the civilian population during conflict, in line with international humanitarian law and the values that the Council is called upon to uphold. That is why we reiterate our urgent call for dialogue, restraint and an end to the use of force. Diplomacy and negotiation, in line with the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and international law, must prevail as the preferred and effective method for the peaceful settlement of disputes.

Allow me to begin by thanking the United Kingdom, as President of the Council, for convening this meeting on such short notice. I would also like to thank the Secretary-General for the briefing provided. For decades, Iran has been a malign, destabilizing actor in the region and beyond. It has repeatedly and systematically violated its international obligations and posed a threat to international peace and security. The Iranian regime has attacked and destabilized neighbours, exported terrorism, developed an illegal ballistic missile programme and participated in widespread sanctions circumvention. Iran has violated resolutions 1696 (2006), 1737 (2006), 1747 (2007), 1803 (2008), 1835 (2008) and 1929 (2010). This aggressive behaviour is consistent. It spans decades. While international law must be respected at all times, the Iranian regime has continuously ignored its responsibilities and binding commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. The regime has openly maintained its illegal nuclear programme, despite repeated and genuine diplomatic engagement from the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States. The Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency has confirmed over the past eight months that Iran is failing to engage and to grant monitors access to installations. This is unacceptable. Iran must cease its illegal nuclear programme, comply with its international obligations and return to the negotiating table. For decades, Iran has maintained terror as its modus operandi. Iran has supported, armed, financed and trained terrorist groups, such as Hamas, Hizbullah and the Houthis. It has enabled and emboldened attacks against countries near and far. It has caused the deaths of thousands of civilians. It has promoted radicalization and the spread of terrorism and undermined global energy and maritime security. Beyond the Middle East, Iran has directly supported Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine. More than 50,000 of the same Iranian Shahed drones that are now striking numerous countries in the Middle East have been transferred by Iran to Russia. Iranian weapons and Iranian technology have contributed to killing thousands of innocent Ukrainians, and like Russia in Ukraine, Iran is now bringing terror to innocent civilians in the Gulf countries. Latvia stands with the brave people of Iran, a brave people that has endured so much — decades of brutality and repression. Recently, the Council met to address the atrocities perpetrated by the Islamic regime against its own people in the streets of Iran (see S/PV.10091). Latvia and the European Union have already imposed sanctions against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The Iranian people must be able to determine their own future free from violence and repression. Latvia joins the call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and urgent de- escalation. We call on all sides to protect civilians and avoid further escalation. Latvia condemns the unprovoked Iranian strikes against countries in the region, namely, our fellow member of the Council — Bahrain — and Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Strikes on these countries constitute a threat to regional and international peace and security, and we stand in solidarity with our partners.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of the United Kingdom. I thank the Secretary-General for his briefing. This is a fragile moment for the Middle East. The United Kingdom played no role in the strikes against Iran. But we are under no illusion about the nature of the Iranian regime. The Iranian regime has murdered thousands of its own people simply for exercising their fundamental rights and freedoms. Iran has repeatedly ignored calls to find a durable and acceptable solution to the nuclear issue, while continuing to destabilize the region through its support for proxies and partners. We strongly condemn Iranian strikes across the region, including the attacks on a hotel in Dubai, the attack on Kuwait’s civilian airport and attacks on civilian targets in Bahrain. We extend our support and solidarity to all our partners, many of which are not parties to the conflict. Regional stability remains a priority. As my Prime Minister stated, United Kingdom forces are active, and British planes are in the sky today as part of coordinated regional defensive operations to protect our people and regional partners, as the United Kingdom has done before and in line with international law. Reports of strikes on civilians and civilian infrastructure are deeply alarming. The protection of civilians and full respect for international law are critical. Iran must never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon. That is why we, alongside our French and German partners, have continually supported efforts to reach a negotiated solution. We have always been clear that only a diplomatic solution can fully and sustainably address these threats. We want to see the swiftest possible resolution that ensures security and stability for the region. Iran must refrain from further strikes and from its appalling behaviour in order to allow a path back to diplomacy. We will continue to work with our partners to this end, in support of peace and security and of the protection of civilian life across the region. I resume my functions as President of the Council. I now give the floor to the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

We appreciate the Secretary-General for his briefing and his contribution to this meeting. We express our sincere appreciation to the Russian Federation and China for supporting the convening of this emergency meeting of the Security Council to address the manifest aggression committed by the United States and the Israeli regime. I also thank those Council members — in particular China, Pakistan and the Russian Federation — that have today taken principled positions in condemning this unlawful act. It is regrettable that some members of this body, with a blatant double standard, disregarded the flagrant act of aggression committed by the United States and Israel on Iran and condemn Iran for using its inherent right to self-defence under the Charter of the United Nations. This morning, the United States regime, jointly and in coordination with the Israeli regime, initiated an unprovoked and premeditated aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran for the second time in recent months, while deliberately attacking civilian populated areas in multiple large cities of Iran where millions of people reside. As a result of these brutal armed attacks, hundreds of civilians have been killed and injured. The aggression and atrocious crimes of the United States regime and the Israeli regime and their deliberate and persistent targeting of civilian infrastructure are ongoing. In addition to numerous civilian residential buildings, the aggressors have also targeted a school in the city of Minab, Hormozgan Province, killing more than 100 children. The number of innocent civilians continues to rise. This is not only an act of aggression; it is a war crime and a crime against humanity. Yet, today, once again the representative of the United States, true to a regrettable pattern, has attempted to distort facts and rely on misinformation to justify the blatant aggression of the United States and Israel against my country. The facts, however, are unequivocal. The justifications advanced by the representative of the United States today are illegal and entirely devoid of legal foundations. The baseless allegations invoked to defend this unlawful use of force have no standing under international law. The invocation of a pre-emptive attack, claims of imminent threats or other unsubstantiated political claims cannot legitimize aggression. Such claims are unfounded legally, morally and politically, and they contradict the clear principles of the Charter of the United Nations. I also categorically reject the assertions made by the representatives of France, the United Kingdom and certain other Western members regarding Iran’s peaceful nuclear programme. These claims lack a factual and legal basis. The President of the United States and the Prime Minister of the Israeli regime have openly claimed responsibility for this act of aggression and have explicitly articulated regime change as their objective, an unmistakable admission of their intent to violate Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The President of the United States has falsely described this aggression as necessary to neutralize an imminent threat to the American people. This is nothing more than a deliberate attempt to mislead the international community and the United States public opinion and manufacture consent for an unlawful war. Similarly, the representative of the United States has cynically sought to mislead the Council. Yet history provides ample documentation that the foreign policy of the United States has repeatedly relied on unlawful force, covert intervention and political manipulation to alter the governments of other Member States. This record is well established. The reality is clear and undeniable: what is taking place today against my country by the United States and the terrorist regime of Israel is a blatant act of aggression — a full-fledged violation of international law. No justification, no accusation, no narrative of disinformation can legitimize or excuse this manifest crime and aggression. We have communicated on several occasions with the Council and the Secretary-General about warmongering statements and actions interfering in the internal affairs of Iran by the President of the United States, in blatant violation of the United Nations Charter and international law, and called for the Council’s action. Regrettably, all our calls were unanswered. The issue before the Council is straightforward: whether any Member State, including a permanent member of the Council, may, through the use of force, coercion or aggression, determine the political future or system of another State or impose control over its affairs. International law and the Charter of the United Nations are explicit on this matter. Article 2, paragraph 4, of the Charter categorically prohibits the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state. Against this backdrop. I would like to make the following points. First, what is occurring against my country is a clear act of aggression. It is an open aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran. The United States’ and Israel’s war today is not merely a war against Iran; it is a war against the Charter of the United Nations, a war against international law and a war against the international legal order upon which the United Nations and the Security Council have been built for more than eight decades. As the Charter affirms, the United Nations was established to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war. The Charter, adopted in 1945, is founded upon this fundamental principle: members shall refrain from the threat or use of force in international relations. The sole exception is the inherent right of self- defence under Article 51 and only in the event of an armed attack. The military aggression carried out by the United States and Israel satisfies none of the criteria of lawful self-defence. Accordingly, the action of the United States and Israel constitutes a manifest violation of Article 2 of the Charter — a peremptory norm and a foundational principle of international law accepted by all Member States. Neither the Charter nor international law recognizes internal matters of States as justification for the use of force by other States. Were this otherwise, no international legal order could endure; the rule of law would be replaced by the rule of force. Secondly, in responding to aggression and large-scale war, the Islamic Republic of Iran is exercising its inherent and lawful right of self-defence under Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations. The armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran are utilizing all their necessary defensive capabilities and means to confront this criminal aggression and deter the hostile acts. Consequently, all bases, facilities and assets of the hostile forces in the region shall be regarded as legitimate military objectives within the framework of Iran’s lawful exercise of self-defence. Iran will continue to exercise its right of self-defence decisively and without hesitation until the aggression ceases in full and unequivocal terms. Thirdly, Iran remains firmly committed to respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its neighbouring countries. Under no circumstances will we target the sovereignty, people or interests of our neighbouring countries in the Persian Gulf. Our legitimate response has been directed solely and exclusively at the bases and assets of the hostile Government of the United States that operate beyond the control of the host States. Priority has been given to targets that diminish the aggressor’s capability and capacity to continue its malign actions. We had previously and formally conveyed this warning to the Secretary-General and the Security Council. Fourthly, despite continuous United States hostile policy, we were sincerely and seriously pursuing the path of diplomacy and dialogue to reach a just, fair and sustainable agreement, yet for the second time in the middle of negotiations, the United States betrayed diplomacy and resorted to force and launched an attack against my country in blatant violation of the Charter of the United Nations. Brazenly interfering in Iran’s internal affairs, they are even calling on the people to riot against their own Government. The recent record of the United States towards Iran is equally clear. Since January 2025, the United States Administration again reinstated its hostile approach, including the policy of the so-called “maximum pressure” and economic strangulation through sweeping sanctions. The General Assembly has repeatedly voted by overwhelming majorities against such unilateral coercive measures. The objective of these illegal measures has been transparent: unconditional surrender. Despite repeated warnings by Iran to the Secretary-General and the Council regarding serious violations of the Charter by a permanent member, the Council has regrettably failed to discharge its primary responsibility, allowing the erosion of the rule of law in favour of the rule of force. Fifthly, just as the Israeli regime succeeded in dragging the United States into the quagmire of war with Iran, the United States, in turn, is deliberately seeking to expand the scope of the conflict by exploiting its bases in the Persian Gulf region. The hostile United States Government’s dream of swallowing Iran and forcing the Islamic Republic of Iran into submission will never be realized. This war, before being a contest of military equipment and advanced technologies, is a battle of wills — and in that battle, the Islamic Republic of Iran will prevail. Furthermore, the Islamic Republic of Iran has repeatedly affirmed its commitment to diplomacy and negotiation. However, it will never submit to pressure, coercion or force. Diplomacy has rules and principles; it cannot coexist with aggression. Sixthly, the duty of Council members is to defend international law and, specifically, the Charter. They are not called upon to judge the political systems of States, nor to determine whether military aggression or economic siege leads to freedom or domination. Expressions of concern and empty condemnations are not sufficient. The Council must act. Pursuant to Article 39 of the Charter, the Security Council must immediately: determine that the United States and the Israeli regime have committed an act of aggression and demand the immediate cessation of its unlawful use of force, including any explicit or implicit threats against Iran, and require binding assurances of non-repetition, and affirm that the United States and the Israeli regime bear full international responsibility for all material and moral damages inflicted upon the infrastructure and facilities of the Islamic Republic of Iran and are obligated to provide full reparation. Let me conclude with a simple and undeniable truth: Israel and the United States have attacked Iran. They have violated international law and the Charter of the United Nations. They must be held accountable. So long as this aggression continues, Iran will continue to exercise its inherent right of self-defence — firmly, proportionately, and without hesitation — until the aggression ends. The Security Council must act now and stop these acts of aggression immediately. Silence is complicity in this crime.

I now give the floor to the representative of Israel.

For 47 years, the Islamic regime in Iran has led crowds in chanting. Does Mr. Iravani want to translate those chants? His leaders have been chanting it for years in public events in his Parliament — “death to Israel, death to America”. Israeli and American flags have been painted on roads so that they could be trampled. Our flags have been burned in public squares. This is not the anger of a radical fringe. It is State-sanctioned hatred. And while those chants echoed, uranium was enriched, centrifuges spun, missiles were built, and facilities were buried deep underground. It was never just empty rhetoric. It was preparation for action. But today, alongside our ally, the United States, we are acting to stop it. Israel stands before the Council today, having acted with the United States to confront and stop an existential threat before it became irreversible. The operation is targeting nuclear infrastructure, ballistic missile sites, the machinery of repression that fuels terror across our region. We did not act on impulse. We did not act out of aggression. We acted out of necessity because the Iranian regime left no reasonable alternative. This joint effort will continue for as long as the threat remains. We thank President Trump and acknowledge the close cooperation between Israel and the United States, which has brought the alliance between our countries to an all-time high in peace and in war. Let us be clear about what we are confronting. This regime has built nuclear weapons in blatant disregard of international law and United Nations resolutions. It has brutally murdered its own citizens and crushed dissent. And it is happening now, as we speak, in cities in Iran. It has expanded missile arsenals and armed proxies across the region. It has openly declared its intention to erase Israel from the map. Now, as it faces consequences, it is launching missiles and drones across the region, endangering the United Arab Emirates, where a Pakistani citizen, unfortunately, was killed. It is attacking Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Iraq. As we speak, in the past hour, a rocket targeted the city of Tel Aviv. Civilians were targeted, as Iran does not target military bases. Iran struck a building in Tel Aviv, in which an innocent woman was killed and 21 people were injured. This is a regime that destabilizes wherever it reaches. It spreads violence outward while crushing freedom at home. It is not reacting; it is expanding. It is a machinery of radicalism that does not recognize borders. Diplomacy was exhausted. Iran was required to stop enriching uranium, stop heavy water projects, stop developing nuclear-capable missiles and allow full inspections. Iran did none of it. Instead, it fortified its nuclear facilities so that we could not get to them, accelerated missile production and continue to fund terror. Since the most recent operation in the summer, Iran spent billions on their proxies. The resolutions were clear. The strategy was just as clear: delay, delay, delay. But we will not be played. And it is simple what they were planning. They were building the means to corner us, to force an irreversible reality with our backs against the wall. That is not a future that Israel will accept. No responsible nation should. This operation is guided by clear objectives. Eliminate immediate threats, dismantle the nuclear programme, destroy its ballistic missile production, neutralize naval threats, break the proxy network that destabilizes the region. The operation was carried out in order to protect the people of Israel in the framework of the ongoing armed conflict between Israel and Iran, in line with the Charter of the United Nations and in accordance with international law. Our forces stand ready to stop extremism armed with nuclear weapons. We salute the soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces, our boys and girls, my son, my daughter. They stand like lions defending our people. An entire nation stands behind them. We have heard the condemnations from a few Member States and the Secretary-General, but we all know that the escalation did not begin today; it began when Iran armed proxies and exported terror, expanded missiles and drones, advanced its nuclear programme in violation of its commitments, turned on its own people, beating, imprisoning, executing. Where was the outrage of the United Nations? Where were the consequences? Now, Israel acts to prevent an irreversible threat, and the condemnation is immediate. This is the definition of hypocrisy. Some call this aggression; we call it necessity. We call it survival. History has taught us to never ignore those who openly call for our destruction. When a regime says that it will destroy Israel, when it chants “death to Israel”, when it promises to wipe Haifa and Tel Aviv off the map, we genuinely believe it. When we see the hundreds of ballistic missiles that they are launching into Israel, we believe the threats. We do not ignore them. We do not gamble with our survival. We act. Let me now address the brave people of Iran. They are not our enemies. This operation is not directed at them; it is directed at a regime that has silenced them, imprisoned them and invested in missiles and uranium while their economy suffers. They deserve better. It is this regime, the Basij militia and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps who have dragged their country into isolation. The world does not fear a free Iran; it fears a radical regime, armed with nuclear weapons and driven by extremism. Their future should not be defined by those who chant for death. As President Trump has said, the Iranian people deserve dignity, security and the chance to shape their own destiny. We are thinking about them. They are seen. They are not alone. The future of Iran belongs to its people; we stand with them. This week, Jewish families all around the world celebrate Purim. Many Israelis will now do so in a bomb shelter. The story of Purim happened more than 2,500 years ago in the same place, in ancient Persia. An evil minister by the name of Haman sought to wipe out the Jewish people. It began with words and chants; it became a decree. It could have become a genocide, but Queen Esther refused to remain silent. She stepped forward, she spoke up, she acted before it was too late. That is the lesson we learned. It is not only an ancient lesson; it is a modern one. Last week, I stood at the gates of Auschwitz with dozens of United Nations ambassadors. We stood in a place that shows what happens when radicalism and extremism grow, and no one stops them in time. Before the Holocaust, some serious leaders believed that they could calm aggression with concessions. They were completely wrong. Giving in did not stop evil; it strengthened it. Winston Churchill understood what Queen Esther understood long before him: when destruction is declared and weapons are being prepared and assembled, leaders must act, not later but now. Today President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu understand that same lesson. For decades, the Iranian regime has built missiles, enriched uranium, armed proxies and spread terror far beyond its borders. This regime is not only Israel’s enemy; it is an enemy of stability, an enemy of every peace-loving nation. In this joint operation, Israel and the United States are acting together, not because we seek conflict, but because we refuse to ignore declared destruction. We are stopping extremism before it becomes unstoppable. We will ensure that no radical regime armed with nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles can threaten our people or the entire world.

I now give the floor to Mr. Abdelaziz.

I thank the British presidency for convening this emergency meeting this afternoon, and I thank the Secretary-General for his powerful and comprehensive briefing. The Security Council is meeting today at a pivotal and decisive moment in the history of the United Nations. This moment unfortunately constitutes a catastrophic failure of the multilateral international system — a failure against which the League of Arab States has long warned. Regrettably, it is a moment in which the Arab-Israeli conflict has expanded into a full-scale regional war, through which Israel seeks to avoid ending its occupation of the Palestinian territory, prevent the establishment of an independent Palestinian State and obstruct that State’s accession to the United Nations in the implementation of the two-State solution and the main foundations of international legitimacy. Israel has done so by expanding the scope of its brutal military aggression against the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank and by intensifying its efforts to annex the West Bank and its repeated military aggression against Syria, Lebanon, Yemen and Iran, in an illusory and unacceptable effort that is rejected at the Arab, regional and international levels to impose Israeli hegemony over the Middle East region using military means, even if it is at the expense of the member States of the League of Arab States and the suffering of their peoples under Israeli policies and attacks aimed at imposing the law of force instead of the force of law. At the previous meeting of the Security Council on the agenda item “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question” last week (see S/PV.10108), the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Israel, the occupying Power, made extremist religious assertions, thereby offering clear evidence of the arrogance of Israel, which seeks to impose its own extremist religious interpretation on the world, claiming that all Palestinian land, including the West Bank, which cannot be annexed, as per President Donald J. Trump’s Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict and resolution 2803 (2025), has been Israeli land for thousands of years. Such claims reflect unmistakable contempt for the legal and historical foundations on which international legitimacy, the Council and this long-standing Organization are built. Two days ago, it was announced that the negotiations between the United States and Iran in Geneva on the Iranian nuclear file had made some progress. Nevertheless, Israel has blatantly transgressed all these lines in pursuit of its narrow self-serving interests with its wanton military attack on the Islamic Republic of Iran at dawn today, claiming that this attack is aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, whereas Israel itself refuses to join the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons or to subject its nuclear facilities to the International Atomic Energy Agency’s comprehensive safeguards regime. Moreover, Israel refuses to attend the Conference on the Establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction, whose seventh session was held at the United Nations in November last year, the Islamic Republic of Iran having participated in all sessions. Israel and one permanent member of the Council boycotted this important conference, which seeks the same goal: to peacefully eliminate the ambiguous nuclear capabilities of both Israel and Iran. The Israeli position reflects Israel’s clear desire to remain the only country in the Middle East to possess ambiguous nuclear capabilities and to be capable of producing nuclear weapons — something that the countries of the Middle East cannot allow. Despite all that has been said, the current situation continues to mark a clear escalation among all the parties concerned, to the point that the Islamic Republic of Iran has launched a blatantly unjustified military attack against a number of member States of the League of Arab States. That escalation threatens to expand the scope of the military conflict and to spark a large-scale regional war. The General Secretariat of the League of Arab States has issued an official statement, from which I will quote: “The General Secretariat of the League of Arab States condemns in the strongest terms Iran’s attacks and assaults on the State of Qatar, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan — in addition to, at this stage, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Syria and Lebanon. It regards the missile attacks as a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the States that have called and striven for stability and have had no part in the war. The General Secretariat expresses its full solidarity with the Arab States in confronting these attacks and affirms its support for any measures that these countries take to defend themselves and ensure the safety of their peoples. “The General Secretariat underscores that the Arab States have taken clear positions on the Iranian crisis by rejecting military action against Tehran. A number of Arab States have done their absolute utmost to mediate with a view to averting the escalation that we are witnessing today. The General Secretariat is acutely aware of the immense danger inherent in the current situation in the region and calls on all actors in the international community to work forthwith to de-escalate the situation as swiftly as possible with a view to sparing the region the devastating consequences of widening instability and violence, and to resume dialogue immediately.” In conclusion, the League of Arab States joins the Secretary-General in urging all States to fulfil their obligations under international law, including under the Charter of the United Nations, which clearly prohibits the threat or the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State and prohibits any use of force that is inconsistent with the purposes and principles of the United Nations, especially attacks on nuclear facilities, which could have catastrophic consequences for entire populations. The League also joins the United Nations in appealing for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a de-escalation so as to avert a wider regional conflict, which would have dire consequences for regional stability in the Middle East. From this standpoint, the League of Arab States urges the Security Council, particularly as the United States is set to assume the presidency tomorrow, to lead the international collective security regime at the Security Council, in order to bring an immediate end to military operations and resume negotiations on all tracks by drawing on the positive momentum fostered by last week’s Board of Peace meeting and President Trump’s role in advancing global peace and ensuring compliance with the established mechanisms of the multilateral international system, with a view to averting any geopolitical confrontations, which will only impede progress towards the desired goal of global peace.

The representative of the United States has asked for the floor to make a further statement.

I wish to take the floor to reply to the so-called representative of the Iranian regime. The United States strongly rejects this ridiculous and, frankly, farcical assertion that United States actions are inconsistent with international law. For 47 years, the Iranian regime has chanted “death to America” at every turn, at every opening of its Parliament. It has sought to eradicate the State of Israel. It has waged an unending campaign of bloodshed and mass murder. It is responsible for a series of unprovoked armed attacks targeting the United States and Israel, violations of the Charter of the United Nations and threats to international peace and security across the Middle East. It has even attempted to assassinate the United States President, President Trump. It has done so not only directly but also through its proxies, thus seeking to hide and mask its bad actions, while publicly claiming to be a victim. Iran’s menacing activities directly endanger the United States, our troops, our bases overseas, our partners and our allies around the world. The United States has made every effort to negotiate a peaceful resolution of this conflict with Iran, but Iran has failed to take that opportunity. So, in close coordination with the Government of Israel, the United States has taken lawful actions to address these threats, in line with Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations. I will just say, on a final note: do Council members know who is not complaining tonight, who is not citing the vagaries of international law and who is celebrating in the streets around the world? The Iranian people. Maybe — perhaps, just maybe — they will finally be free.

The representative of Bahrain has asked for the floor to make a further statement.

I apologize for taking the floor again. I would like to carefully and accurately reread a passage from the statement delivered on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council and Jordan and Syria: “As we explained in the letter addressed to him today, several Iranian treacherous missile attacks today targeted the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Qatar and the State of Kuwait, my country, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Syrian Arab Republic, in flagrant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of these countries.”

The representative of Iran has asked for the floor to make a further statement. I now give him the floor.

I have only one more statement. I advise the representative of the United States to be polite. It will be better for him and the country he represents.

The representative of the United States has asked for the floor to make a further statement.

Frankly, I am not going to dignify this with another response, especially as the representative sits here in this body representing a regime that has killed tens of thousands of its own people and has imprisoned many more simply for wanting freedom from its tyranny.

There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers. Before adjourning the meeting, as this is really the last meeting of our presidency for the month of February, I would just like to express my thanks on behalf of the delegation of the United Kingdom to members of the Council, the Secretary- General and members of the Secretariat for all their support this month.