Desk Report,
Heated Security Council meeting: Iran-Russia weigh in on Israel and the US
The Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Mariano Grossi, speaks during a video message to the UN Security Council on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. June 20, 2025, at the UN headquarters in New York. Photo: Reuters
Heated Security Council meeting: Iran-Russia weigh in on Israel and the US
The UN Security Council meeting on Friday turned into a heated debate. Iran and Israel, along with their allies, blamed each other for the war. The meeting called for an end to the war and a diplomatic solution, but the council could not reach a consensus on how to move forward.
After decades of limited conflict, direct and through Iranian-backed groups, the most intense conflict between Iran and Israel began last week. Israel accuses Tehran of developing nuclear weapons, which is a threat to it. So Israel launched air strikes on Iran in self-defense. Iran responded by launching missiles and drone attacks on Israel. The two countries are still engaged in a tit-for-tat exchange of fire. In a speech to the meeting, Iran’s UN ambassador, Amir Saeed Iravani, described the “surprise and existential threat” (by Iran) to justify Israel and its allies’ aggression on Tehran as “the excuse of a terrorist state.” Amir Saeed described Israel as a country that kills innocent people and violates the territorial integrity of other countries. During his speech, he showed pictures of children killed in Israeli attacks. In response, Israeli ambassador Danny Danon said Iran was “playing the victim.” He said to Iravani, “How dare you ask the international community to protect you from the consequences of a plan that is designed to commit genocide?” The meeting, filled with personal attacks and accusations, took place at a time when ongoing talks between Iran and European countries in Geneva, Switzerland, have been postponed without any progress. Meanwhile, Iran’s foreign minister said that constructive talks are not possible unless Israel stops its attacks.
The Security Council members mainly support an end to the fighting and a diplomatic solution to the crisis. However, there is a debate over who is responsible for holding talks.
