Secretary General on the Middle East: “we need the Security Council to unify around lasting peace”
As member states prepare to vote later today on a Security Council resolution condemning Iran’s military attacks on Gulf states, the draft notably omits any condemnation of the initial strikes by the United States and Israel, raising questions about the text’s balance and its broader global precedent.
United Nations, New York City
Sphinx News: Ahmed Ali
With members of the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) set to propose a draft resolution later today at the Security Council categorically rejecting Iran’s missile and drone attacks on their territory, the Secretary-General reiterated his call for the Council to “unify around a common voice in pursuit of lasting peace.”
As members of the GCC joined in solidarity at the Security Council stakeout in New York City, rejecting the Islamic Republic’s military actions as a “blatant contravention of international law,” ambassadors alluded to “deliberate attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure” by Tehran.
Permanent Representative of Bahrain to the United Nations, Ambassador Jamal Fares Alrowaiei, speaking as well on behalf of all members of the GCC (UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia), described the recent 12-day military escalation by Tehran as “unprovoked aggression and a heinous crime.” As of the last 12 days, Ambassador Alrowaeiei contends that Bahrain’s air defense systems “have successfully and collectively intercepted more than 954 Iranian missiles, more than 2,500 drones, and 17 aircrafts.”
Despite the escalations, Ambassador Alrowaeiei posits that Bahrain has remained steadfast in defusing escalations, urging a return to diplomacy within the United Nations forum. Bahrain has reiterated to its other Gulf colleagues and UN counterparts alike that Iran has not just “targeted military locations,” but “residential buildings, food distribution facilities, airports, energy installations, and critical civilian infrastructure.” Bahrain has equally been economically subdued by the recent de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz, where such actions have “disturbed maritime routes, with lasting economic implications for everyone.”
In response, Ambassador Alrowaeiei briefed reporters on the proposition of a new draft resolution to be voted on by the Security Council later today. Within the resolution’s contents, it elucidates three particular areas of contention:
“First, is condemnation in the strongest terms of the heinous Iranian acts, which constitute a breach of international law and peace and security.”
“Second, is demanding the cessation of direct military hostilities by Iran, and cessation of regional provocation by the use of proxies.”
“Third, is decrying Iran’s deliberate targeting of innocent civilians and civilian infrastructure,” particularly denouncing Tehran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
The demands of the resolution echo the sentiments of the latest joint GCC ministerial meeting and the most recent joint meeting by the League of Arab States. While Ambassador Alrowaeiei underscores the importance of the Council “speaking in one voice,” the resolution, if adopted, will set a global precedent against the actions of Tehran, with no mention at all of the military actions taken by either the United States or Israel.
