At UN, Israel and Iran Caution Each Other on Potential Attacks – By Reuters

By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – On Wednesday, Israel and Iran exchanged threats of retaliation against each other as the United Nations Security Council convened, heightening concerns about a broader conflict in the Middle East.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged an end to the "deadly cycle of tit-for-tat violence," warning that "time is running out."

The council session followed Israel’s killing of the leader of Lebanon’s Hezbollah and its initiation of a ground offensive against the Iran-backed militant group, which was preceded by an Iranian missile strike on Israel.

Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon declared, "Israel will defend itself. We will act. And let me assure you, the consequences Iran will face for their actions will be far greater than they could ever have imagined."

In response, Iran’s U.N. Ambassador Amir Saied Iravani described Tuesday’s missile attack as a measure to "restore balance and deterrence." He emphasized that further conflict could be avoided if Israel ceased its military operations in Gaza and its attacks on Lebanon.

"Iran is fully prepared to take further defensive measures if necessary to protect its legitimate interests and defend its territorial integrity and sovereignty against any acts of military aggression," he added.

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield asserted that American support for Israel had been defensive in nature. She stated, "Let me be clear: The Iranian regime will be held responsible for its actions. And we strongly warn against Iran – or its proxies – taking actions against the United States, or further actions against Israel."

French U.N. Ambassador Nicolas de Riviere called for the Security Council to demonstrate unity and speak with a collective voice to de-escalate the situation. Thomas-Greenfield supported this notion, advocating for a condemnation of Iran and "serious consequences" for its elite Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.

Both Israel and the U.S. urged for sanctions against Iran.

Guterres condemned Iran’s missile assault on Israel. Earlier in the day, Israel’s foreign minister had announced a ban against Guterres from entering the country due to his criticism of Iran’s actions.

Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia commended Iran for what he termed "exceptional" restraint in recent months, arguing that the missile attack should not be seen in isolation from the ongoing violence in Lebanon, Gaza, Syria, and Yemen, which has exacerbated the crisis.

The escalation followed a deadly attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7, which sparked the ongoing conflict in Gaza, resulting in over 41,000 casualties according to local authorities as Israel’s military continues to target the region, displacing nearly all of its 2.3 million residents. Hezbollah and Iran-aligned Houthi forces in Yemen have also launched rockets at Israel in solidarity with the Palestinian cause.

In the past year, the Security Council has put forth four resolutions regarding the conflict between Israel and Hamas, with a ceasefire proposal from U.S. President Joe Biden most recently supported in June.

Nebenzia criticized the U.S. for its perceived lack of effective diplomacy to resolve the Gaza conflict, suggesting that the negotiations seem to be a self-serving process for Washington.

Thomas-Greenfield remarked that recent events should convey a clear message to Hamas leaders: "Hezbollah and Iran will not rescue you. The only path forward is a ceasefire agreement. We must double down on diplomatic solutions that ensure the safety of people across the region."