UN chief: US and Israeli strikes on Iran violate international law
Mar 1st 2026
At an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting, Secretary-General António Guterres condemned U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran and warned against escalation while the United States and Israel defended their actions and Iran demanded accountability.
- Guterres warned the strikes risk widening the conflict and said they violated the U.N. Charter.
- The United States and Israel defended the airstrikes as lawful measures to stop Iran's nuclear and missile threats.
- Iran said the strikes killed and injured hundreds of civilians and called the attacks war crimes.
- U.S. and Iranian ambassadors exchanged heated warnings during the emergency Security Council session.
- Russia and China condemned or criticized the U.S. and Israeli actions and urged a return to diplomacy.
- The emergency meeting was called by Bahrain, France, Russia, China and Colombia and European leaders urged resuming talks on Iran's nuclear program.