In a surprising move of further conflict in the US-Israel-Iran triangle, US military airstrikes reportedly “wiped out” Iranian nuclear targets. It would be the largest Western military intervention in Iran since the 1979 revolution. It has drawn the opprobrium of nearly every country in the world, including Russia, China, and Pakistan.
The United States further erased any remaining doubt that it was committed to dismantling Iran’s enrichment capacity. They argued that this was the only way to ensure the safety of Americans and our allies. Acting US Ambassador to the United Nations, Dorothy Shea, defended the strikes, stating, “The time finally came for the United States, in defence of its ally and our own interests, to act decisively.” Shea made clear that if Iranian forces retaliated, their actions would face “devastating” retaliation themselves.
When defending these strikes, Israel’s UN ambassador, Danny Danon, praised the operation as a victory for global security. He rejected calls for condemnation from various nations, asserting that “that’s for the Iranian people to decide, not for us.” This fiercely bellicose pronouncement is a further sign of Israel’s determined, long-held opposition to Iran’s nuclear aspirations and its eagerness to back hawkish military on military confrontation.
The rapidly shifting circumstances have resulted in strained diplomacy at the United Nations. Russia, China, and Pakistan have teamed up to put forward a Security Council resolution calling for an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire.” The resolution includes strong language condemning the attacks on Iranian military facilities. It conspicuously does not call out the US or Israel as the aggressors. Russia’s UN envoy, Vasily Nebenzya, criticized the strikes as indicative of Washington’s “disregard for global norms.”
China’s ambassador to the UN, Fu Cong, denounced the US’ actions. President Biden’s commitment to limiting engagement. He called for restraint in future military engagements. Pakistan’s ambassador to the U.S., Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, called the bombing of Iranian facilities “deeply troubling.” He too had done his part to show solidarity with Iran during this difficult time.
The targeted sites included the Isfahan facility, which may have seen its entrances to several underground tunnels destroyed. Natanz, another site that has been for years thought to be especially vulnerable to Israeli sabotage, was likely targeted again as a part of the strikes.
Iran has been quick to respond to the military actions with their own incendiary moves. As Ali Bahreini, ambassador to the UN, eloquently stated, those Israeli and US attacks did not occur “in a vacuum.” He blamed the appropriation of these resources on the “politically motivated actions” of Washington and its European partners. In addition, Iran has made outrageous comments about UN officials like Rafael Grossi for supposedly creating an environment that made these attacks possible.
Against this dramatic escalation into turbulence, Pakistan surprised the world by nominating US President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. Some may perceive this flip-flop as hypocritical, especially in light of today’s hostilities.
Following this surge in violence and deepening diplomatic tensions, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for an immediate ceasefire to cease hostilities. He stressed that the world must get back to meaningful negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program.
“We must act – immediately and decisively – to halt the fighting and return to serious, sustained negotiations on the Iran nuclear programme.” – António Guterres
