The United Nations Security Council convened an emergency session to address a severe Middle East crisis, with widespread condemnation of violence and grave concerns over regional escalation and threats to global energy security.

Condemnation of Violence and Calls for De-escalation

The UN Secretary-General condemned massive military strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran, as well as subsequent Iranian attacks violating the sovereignty of Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. He characterized the situation as a grave threat to international peace and security, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities and de-escalation. He emphasized that all member states must refrain from the threat or use of force against any state's territorial integrity, stressing that international and humanitarian law must always be respected. Most Security Council speakers echoed these sentiments, condemning violence from all sides and calling for an immediate ceasefire.

Monitoring of the Strait of Hormuz

The UN is closely monitoring the status of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint through which at least one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas trade passes daily. The Secretary-General noted awareness of reports that Iran is closing the strait to international shipping. Greece's ambassador emphasized that the security of energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea, and the Persian Gulf must be respected, labeling threats against such shipments a blatant violation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Warnings of Regional Escalation

The Secretary-General warned the Security Council that the conflict risked spiraling out of control, with military action expanding rapidly across the region. This expansion was said to create a volatile and unpredictable situation, heightening the risk of miscalculation. Denmark's ambassador underscored that de-escalation was imperative, warning that a broader regional escalation would have devastating consequences for the Middle East and international peace and security.

Positions of Member States

Council members expressed divergent views on the crisis. Russia and China condemned the US and Israel, with China's ambassador terming their escalation as "shocking" while negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme were ongoing. He stated that the escalation and spillover of tensions served no one's interests. In contrast, the US ambassador defended the military attacks on Iran, stating their operation had precise strategic goals: the destruction of Iran's ballistic missile programme, ending its support for proxy armed groups in Lebanon and Gaza, halting its nuclear weapons ambitions, and destroying naval vessels used to destabilize international waters—a reference to Iranian threats against the Strait of Hormuz.

Unconfirmed Report

The Secretary-General referenced a report from Israeli sources claiming the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei but clarified he was not in a position to confirm it.