 "Israel urges UNSC to 'punish and deter' Iran, Tehran hits back")
As the brewing tensions between Iran and Israel continue to escalate, Israel urges the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to punish and deter Iran following the unprecedented Iranian military strike on the Jewish nation.
The strikes which Iran referred to as “Operation Truthful Promise” were said to have been conducted in retaliation to the Israeli strike at the Iranian embassy in Syria earlier this month.
“Today, the council must take action,” Israel’s Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan told the council at an emergency meeting held on Sunday.
“Condemn Iran for their terror; trigger the snapback mechanism and reimpose crippling sanctions; designate the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps as a terror organization. Action must be taken now — not for Israel’s sake, not for the region’s sake, but for the world’s sake," he added.
It is important to note that it was Israel which called for the emergency meeting following a direct attack on its territory by Iran. Tel Aviv has maintained that Tehran unleashed 170 armed drones, 120 ballistic missiles, and 30 cruise missiles in its territory.
However, Israel also noted that its air defences along with those of the United States and other allies managed to deter 99 per cent of the strikes, averting a major tragedy.
Erdan condemns UNSC for not paying heed to Israel’s plea
During the emergency meeting, the Israeli envoy condemned the UNSC for not listening to Israel’s warning about Iran over the years. He emphasised that the International body has remained silent on the rise of “a Shiite Islamist Reich," AFP reported.
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More Shorts“As Iran’s mask has fallen, the world’s complacency must also fall,” the Israeli envoy said. “The mask comes off and the gloves must come on.”
He insisted that Theran had “crossed every red line” and maintained that Israel has the legal right to retaliate.
UN Chief calls for restraint
Meanwhile, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned the members of the international body not to further escalate tensions with reprisals against Iran.
At the emergency meeting, Guterres told the member nations that the UN charter bars the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state and went on to condemn Iran’s attack on Israel.
“The Middle East is on the brink. The people of the region are confronting the real danger of a devastating full-scale conflict. Now is the time to defuse and de-escalate,” Guterres told the meeting.
After Guterres’ assertion, US deputy envoy to UN Robert Wood called on the 15-member body to unequivocally condemn Iran’s attack and insisted that the council has an obligation to not let Iran’s actions go unanswered.
“In the coming days, and in consultation with other member states, the United States will explore additional measures to hold Iran accountable here at the United Nations,” he said.
“Let me be clear: If Iran or its proxies take actions against the United States or further action against Israel, Iran will be held responsible,” the US official furthered.
Iran hits back
Defending its action at the emergency meeting, Iran’s ambassador to the UN Amir Saeid Iravani maintained that Tehran had no choice but to exercise their right to self-defense following the April 1 attack.
He also reflected on the council’s failure to formally condemn the Israeli attack in Damascus.
“This lawless regime has committed many atrocious crimes against our people,” the Iranian Ambassador said about Israel.
“This regime blatantly and openly admitted its responsibility for the terrorist and destructive operations committed against Iranian officials, scientists and civilians, and sabotage against our peaceful nuclear infrastructure in recent years," he added.
Iravani made it clear that Iran “does not seek escalation or war in the region” but would defend itself if necessary. He also emphasised that Iran does not want any sort of conflict with the United States.
“We demonstrated our commitment to peace by exercising our restraint about involving the US Army in intercepting Iranian drones and missiles bound for military targets in the occupied Palestinian territories,” he said.
“We demonstrated our commitment to peace by exercising our restraint about involving the U.S. Army in intercepting Iranian drones and missiles bound for military targets in the occupied Palestinian territories,” he added.
Despite calls for de-escalation, the Iranian envoy made it clear that if the United States military initiates any operations against Tehran or its citizens, Iran would “respond proportionately.”
With inputs from agencies.
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