(Dan Tri) – Israel and Iran criticized each other at a meeting of the United Nations Security Council after an air strike that caused a stir in the Middle East over the weekend.
Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan showed a video of missile attacks during a meeting on the Middle East situation at the United Nations headquarters in the US on April 14 (Photo: Reuters).
`The mask has been taken off. Iran, the number one global sponsor of terrorism, has exposed its true face as the party destabilizing the region and the world,` Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan
Mr Erdan said that `masks must be taken off and gloves must be put on`, and called on the Security Council to `take action`.
The Israeli diplomat asked the Security Council to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a `terrorist organization` and `impose all possible sanctions on Iran before it is too late.`
In particular, he mentioned the mechanism that would allow members of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which the US withdrew from in 2018, to reimpose international sanctions on Tehran.
`As members of the Security Council, we have a shared responsibility to ensure that Iran complies with the council’s resolutions and ends its violations of the charter,` said US Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood.
According to the US diplomat, in the coming days, Washington will `seek additional measures to hold Iran accountable`.
The Security Council meeting was convened after Tehran’s unprecedented attack on Israel on the night of April 13.
Iran announced its response to the attack that it said was carried out by Israel against Iran’s embassy in Syria earlier this month.
Iranian Ambassador to the United Nations Amir Saeid Iravani spoke to Security Council members during a meeting on the Middle East situation at the United Nations headquarters in the US on April 14 (Photo: Reuters).
Speaking at the emergency meeting, Iran’s Ambassador to the United Nations Amir Saeid Iravani affirmed that the country is exercising its `inherent right to self-defense.`
`The Security Council has failed in its duty to maintain international peace and security. Therefore, Iran has no other choice but to respond,` Mr. Iravani declared.
Mr. Iravani affirmed that Iran `does not seek escalation or war` but will respond to any `threat or aggression`.
He also criticized Israel.
According to the Iranian diplomat, the Security Council must take urgent measures and sanctions to force Israel to stop causing harm to the people of the Gaza Strip.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on all sides to exercise restraint, saying `neither the region nor the world can endure more war`.
`Now is the time to calm down and reduce tensions,` Mr. Guterres emphasized, warning that the entire region is facing the risk of devastating conflict after the events.
While `strongly condemning` Iran’s large-scale attack on Israel, Mr. Guterres also condemned the bombing of Tehran’s consulate buildings in Syria, and called for `an immediate end to these acts of terrorism.`
`It is time to step back from the brink. It is important to avoid any actions that could lead to major military confrontation on many fronts in the Middle East,` the UN secretary general declared.
