Israel has shown ‘blatant disregard’ for a diplomatic solution: Russia’s UN ambassador
Here is a translation of some of the Russian UN ambassador Vasily Nebenzya’s statements at the Security Council.
- Iranian peaceful civilian nuclear facilities continue to be targeted, and this is liable to plunge us into a hitherto unseen nuclear catastrophe.
- The UN Security Council … must provide an objective assessment of the situation and devise an appropriate solution.
- It is Israel which attacked Iran on the eve of the latest planned round of indirect talks between Washington and Tehran.
- Israel not only demonstrated blatant disregard for the efforts that have been undertaken to seek a diplomatic solution to issues around the Iranian nuclear programme but also demonstrated contempt for its key ally, the United States, which, up until recently, had been declaring an intent to reach a compromise solution.
- The nuclear facilities and installations in this country are under the safeguards of the IAEA and are subject to continuous and rigorous verification.
- Israel has disregarded the assessments of the specialist international agency, having, on its own authority, single-handedly, decided to carry out strikes against a sovereign country with no regard for the UN Charter.
US envoy to UN says Iran ‘must abandon nuclear ambitions’
Dorothy Camille Shea, the US ambassador to the UN, has again blamed Iran for the unfolding conflict, saying the country should have agreed to a deal “that would have prevented them from ever obtaining a nuclear weapon”.
Iran has repeatedly denied seeking nuclear arms. The IAEA – the UN’s nuclear agency – and the US intelligence community have said they found no evidence that the Iranian government was building one.
“While the United States was not involved in Israel’s strikes, let there be no doubt that the United States continues to stand with Israel and supports its actions against Iran’s nuclear ambitions,” Shea told the Security Council.
“The Iranian government must abandon its nuclear ambitions so that there is no more destruction.”
Iran’s UN ambassador urges Security Council to stop Israel
Amir-Saeid Iravani has stressed the civilian toll of Israel’s attacks on the country during the UN Security Council meeting in New York, at one point holding up photos of Iranian children killed in the bombings.
“At least two pregnant women and their unborn children were killed on the same day Israel struck the national broadcaster IRIB during a live broadcast,” Iravani told the council.
The Iranian ambassador said Israel’s attacks constitute “gross violations of international law”, and he urged the UN to take action. “Israeli strikes are an assault on the global non-proliferation regime,” he added.
“If the council fails to act now, it will send a message that international law and resolutions apply selectively. If the non-proliferation regime collapses, this council will share responsibility with the Israeli regime.”
‘How dare you’: Israeli envoy to UN attacks Iranian counterpart
Danny Danon has launched into a diatribe against his Iranian counterpart, accusing him of “playing victim” by earlier urging the UN Security Council to uphold international law and stop Israel’s attacks on Iran.
“Mr Iravani, you are not a victim. You are not even a diplomat. You are a wolf pretending to be a diplomat and we are done pretending otherwise,” the Israeli ambassador said.
Danon condemned Iran for a missile strike this week that damaged a hospital in Beersheba in southern Israel. Iran said it was targeting a nearby military site in that attack.
The Israeli ambassador also condemned world governments for calling for de-escalation. “We do not apologise for defending ourselves. We do not apologise for striking Iran’s nuclear facilities. We do not apologise for neutralising the threat,” he said.
