United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the Security Council on Saturday (28 February) after the United States and Israel launched massive attacks against Iran, and after Iran responded with military actions affecting Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Convened urgently just hours after the first missiles were launched from Israel, Mr. Guterres began by recalling the foundations of the international order.
“The UN Charter provides the foundation for the maintenance of international peace and security,” he said, citing Article 2, which prohibits “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,” the Secretary-General said, condemning the military strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran as well as the subsequent attacks by Iran.
“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.”
Urgent call for de-escalation and protection of civilians
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, condemned the military attacks launched against Iran by Israel and the United States, as well as Tehran’s subsequent reprisals. He warned that, as in any armed conflict, civilians ultimately pay the highest price.
Speaking from Geneva, he urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint, resume dialogue and return to the negotiating table to avoid a regional escalation with potentially devastating consequences. Mr Türk recalled that international humanitarian law is clear regarding the obligation to protect civilians and stressed that any violations must lead to accountability for those responsible.
The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, also warned that the humanitarian consequences of the escalating violence are already spreading across the region.
“The humanitarian fallout from the escalation of violence in the Middle East is increasingly daunting,” he said.
“First, civilians are paying the price across the region. Civilians must be protected – full stop. Yet strikes are hitting homes, hospitals and schools. Civilians and civilian infrastructure have been under attack in Iran, Lebanon, Syria, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and beyond.”
Mr Fletcher added that humanitarian actors are assessing the damage and preparing to expand their response where possible. “We are constantly assessing the damage and the scale of the growing humanitarian response required, and scaling up where necessary and possible,” he said.
He noted that contingency plans have been activated across Iran and the wider region, including in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Lebanon, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Syria and Yemen, while warning that the limited presence of international NGOs and restricted operational space in Iran makes the humanitarian response particularly challenging.
International Atomic Energy Agency monitors the region
The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Mariano Grossi, stated that the agency is following with deep concern the military attacks in Iran and other Middle Eastern countries. He confirmed the immediate activation of the Incident and Emergency Centre to assess potential radiological risks stemming from the operations.
So far, there are no indications of damage to Iranian nuclear facilities such as the Bushehr power plant or the Tehran research reactor, nor have radiation levels above normal been detected in neighbouring countries. Nevertheless, Mr. Grossi warned that the presence of nuclear power plants and research reactors in several States across the region increases potential risks. He reiterated his call for maximum restraint, recalling that attacks on nuclear facilities can cause radioactive releases with serious cross-border consequences.
He emphasised that a lasting solution lies in diplomacy and assured that the IAEA will continue to monitor the situation and provide immediate technical assistance should any impact on nuclear safety occur.
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