UN Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific Khaled Khairy addressed an emergency meeting of the Security Council on the situation in Iran on Monday and briefed member states on developments there in recent days.
The meeting was called after Iran’s permanent mission to the United Nations sent a letter to which Algeria, China and Russia also gave their support.
On October 26, Israel launched attacks in Khuzestan, Tehran and other Iranian provinces, after which the UN chief expressed deep concern over the deepening tensions in the Middle East.
He stressed that all actions that could escalate the conflict must be stopped. Also, an appeal was made to all parties to cease military action, so as to avoid war in the region and return to the path of diplomacy.
“Provocative and threatening speech must stop.”
UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Khaled Khairy told member states that all sides must avoid testing each other’s restraints and take steps to maintain peace and stability in the region.
He said this is the first time Israel has claimed responsibility for the attacks on Iran, which were carried out in response to Iranian missile and drone attacks on Israel.
The assistant secretary-general said at least four Iranian soldiers and one civilian were killed and radar equipment was damaged in these attacks.
A senior UN official says the past year has been one of great suffering for ordinary citizens in the Middle East.
In his speech, Khaled Khairy expressed anger over the current situation in Gaza and reiterated the statement of Secretary-General Guterres, in which the UN chief said that the challenges faced by Palestinian civilians in northern Gaza cannot be overstated.
“The level of death, injury and destruction in the north is appalling…Civilians are buried under the rubble. The sick and injured are not receiving life-saving treatment. “There are reports of families without food and shelter, separated from each other and many detained.”
At the same time, fighting continued between Hezbollah and the Israeli army in Lebanon, and ground clashes broke out in southern Lebanon, causing civilian casualties.
Khaled Khairy reiterated the Secretary-General’s appeal and called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon. The hostages must be released unconditionally and held accountable for their crimes under international law.