US calls on UN Security Council to condemn Iran's attacks

By Iclal Turan

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US urged the UN Security Council on Sunday to "unequivocally" condemn Iran's attacks on Israel while Russia and Iran slammed the "hypocritical behavior" and "double standards" of Western countries.

"The Security Council has an obligation to not let Iran’s actions go unanswered," US Ambassador Robert Wood told the emergency session, which was convened at the request of Israel to discuss the situation in the Middle East following Iran's retaliatory response against Israel for its attack on its consular building in Damascus, Syria on April 1.

Noting that Iran has violated its international obligations, Wood said the US will explore additional measures to hold it accountable at the UN in the coming days.

"More immediately, the Security Council must unequivocally condemn Iran’s aggressive actions and call for Iran and its partners and proxies to cease their attacks," he said.

"The United States is not seeking escalation. Our actions have been purely defensive in nature,” Wood stressed.

"The best way to prevent such escalation is an unambiguous condemnation from the Council of Iran’s unprecedented, large-scale attack and an unequivocal call on it and its proxies and partners to refrain from further violence," he added.

- Russia, Iran call out 'Western hypocrisy'

Russian Permanent Representative to the UN Vasily Nebenzya said that "today, the Security Council is witnessing such a parade of Western hypocrisy and double standards that it is even somewhat uncomfortable to watch."

Recalling Israel's attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Nebenzya said an attack on a diplomatic mission is a casus belli under international law.

“If Western missions were attacked, you would not hesitate to retaliate and prove your case in this room. Because for you, everything that concerns Western missions and Western citizens is sacred and must be protected.”

The Russian envoy said his country called on the Security Council to "clearly and unequivocally" condemn Israel's attack on Iran’s consulate as the Council convened on April 2 to discuss it.

"The US, the UK and France essentially refused to confirm that the basic principles of international law on the inviolability of diplomatic and consular facilities, enshrined in the relevant Vienna Conventions, apply equally to all states," he said.

Iran's Ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, said the US, UK and France have chosen "to turn a blind eye to reality and overlook the root causes contributing to the current situation" as they did not condemn the attack against Iran's diplomatic premises in Syria.

"In hypocritical behavior, these three countries falsely blamed and accused Iran without considering their own failures to uphold their international commitment to peace and security in the region," Iravani said.

- Israel accuses Iran of 'blatant violation of international law'

Gilad Erdan, Israel’s ambassador to the UN, said Iran's attack on Israel on Saturday was an "act of utter escalation that can drag the entire region and world into war."

"Last night's attack was a blatant violation of international law and the UN Charter," he said.

"The only option is to condemn Iran and utilize every means necessary to make them pay a heavy price for their horrible crimes.”