Iran s U.N. Ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani, addresses the United Nations Security Council chamber during an emergency meeting at U.N. headquarters, in April 2024. AP
“Now is the time to defuse and de-escalate,” U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said. “Now is the time for maximum restraint.”
At the meeting, Israel and Iran accused one another of being the main threat to peace in the Middle East, each calling on the Security Council to impose sanctions on their sworn enemy.
Iran's UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani insisted his country was exercising its "inherent right to self-defense."
"The Security Council... failed in its duty to maintain international peace and security," Iravani said.
Therefore, Tehran "had no choice" but to respond, he said, adding that his country does "not seek escalation or war," but will respond to any "threat or aggression."
He also lashed out at Israel.
"It is time for the Security Council to shoulder its responsibility and address the real threat to international peace and security," Iravani said.
The body "must take urgent and punitive measures to compel this regime to stop a genocide against the people of Gaza."
Israel's UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan asked the Security Council to designate the Revolutionary Guards, the Islamic Republic's ideological army, as a terrorist organization and to "impose all possible sanctions on Iran before it's too late."
In particular, he referred to the "snapback" mechanism that allows members of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal -- which the United States exited in 2018 -- to reimpose international sanctions against Tehran.
"We have a collective responsibility as members of the Security Council to ensure that Iran complies with the council's resolutions and ceases its violations of the charter," said Deputy US Ambassador Robert Wood.
In the coming days, the United States will "explore additional measures to hold Iran accountable."
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