🕊 UN Security Council Emergency Session

🕊 UN Security Council Emergency Session

• Meeting opened at Iran’s request after U.S. strikes hit three Iranian nuclear sites—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan—executed by U.S. forces alongside Israeli actions reuters.com+3reuters.com+3yahoo.com+3time.com+10reuters.com+10foxnews.com+10.
• UN Secretary-General Guterres called the bombings “a perilous turn,” urging an immediate halt to fighting and a return to negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program reuters.com+1asiaone.com+1.
• IAEA Director Rafael Grossi confirmed tunnel entrances at Fordow and Isfahan were hit but said it’s too early to assess full underground damage. No elevated radiation was detected reuters.com+1asiaone.com+1.

🌐 Country Reactions at the UN (and beyond)

✅ Supporting the Strikes / U.S. Position

• United States (Amb. Dorothy Shea): Justified action as necessary to counter Iran’s delay tactics and nuclear ambitions tbsnews.net+15reuters.com+15time.com+15.
• Israel (Amb. Danny Danon & PM Netanyahu):
  • Danon: U.S. action was “the last line of defense”—inaction could be “catastrophic” foxnews.com+9reuters.com+9reuters.com+9.
  • Netanyahu praised the strikes as a historic move to block Iran’s nuclear path thetimes.co.uk+5reuters.com+5theguardian.com+5.
• Australia: Endorsed the airstrikes and urged diplomatic follow-up tbsnews.net+15reuters.com+15time.com+15.
• European E3 (UK, France, Germany): While firm on preventing a nuclear Iran, they underscored the need for non-military solutions and diplomacy reuters.com+2reuters.com+2reuters.com+2.

⚠️ Opposing the Strikes / Urging Restraint

• China and Russia:
  • China’s envoy emphasized the damage to U.S. credibility and called on all parties—especially Israel—to restrain and return to diplomacy reuters.com+3en.wikipedia.org+3en.wikipedia.org+3asiaone.com+1reuters.com+1.
  • Russia joined calls for an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire” .
• Pakistan: Backed Russia and China in pushing for the ceasefire resolution .
  • Also domestic protests erupted in Karachi, with demonstrators denouncing the strikes and marching over U.S. flags reuters.com.
• Other UN/Nations: UAE, Qatar, Japan, New Zealand, Mexico, Italy, Oman, Lebanon, Norway, and Portugal voiced deep concern, urging diplomacy and restraint reuters.com.
• Venezuela & Cuba: Strongly condemned the U.S. airstrikes as acts of aggression .
• Iraq: Denounced the bombings as violations of international law, called for UNSC intervention .

🏛 U.S. Domestic Perspectives

• Republican senators like Roger Wicker and Jim Risch backed the strikes—but framed it as Israel’s war, not requiring direct U.S. boots on the ground reuters.com.
• House Democrats like Hakeem Jeffries and Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez criticized the action as unconstitutional and potentially war-inducing without Congressional approval reuters.com+1foxnews.com+1.

🔥 Iran’s Position & Potential Response

• Iran’s UN Ambassador Iravani denounced the strikes as a misuse of the NPT and “blatant aggression,” saying Iran reserves the right to defend itself reuters.com+1reuters.com+1.
• Foreign Minister Araqchi warned of “everlasting consequences” and said no diplomacy until Iran retaliates—possibly including missile strikes, closure of the Strait of Hormuz, or targeting U.S. naval assets theguardian.com+3news.com.au+3asiaone.com+3.
• Iran retaliated with missiles against Israel, prompting civilian casualties and raising fears of wider regional warfare news.com.au+1thetimes.co.uk+1.

📌 Quick Summary Table

✅ Key Takeaways

1. UN Security Council met urgently, with major powers divided.
2. U.S. and allies justify strikes as necessary to stop Iran’s nuclear program.
3. Most others advocate diplomacy, fearing legal violations and conflict.
4. Iran vows retaliation, signaling a dangerous potential new phase in regional tensions.