UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. Security Council held an emergency meeting Saturday after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, as world powers warned of a broader regional war and urged an immediate return to diplomacy. The session was requested by Bahrain and France, according to reporting from AP and Reuters.
China said it was “highly concerned” by the attacks and called for an immediate halt to military action. At the U.N., China’s ambassador said Beijing was very concerned by the sudden escalation and supported a return to negotiations, while China’s foreign ministry said Iran’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity should be respected. Oman, which had been mediating U.S.-Iran talks, also urged restraint. Reuters reported that Omani officials criticized the military escalation and warned against deeper U.S. involvement, with Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi urging Washington not to get drawn further into the conflict.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres condemned both the U.S.-Israeli use of force and Iran’s retaliation, warning that the cycle of attacks was undermining international peace and security. He called for an immediate ceasefire and a return to the negotiating table. France’s President Emmanuel Macron separately called for urgent U.N. action, saying the outbreak of war posed a major threat to global peace and security. He also urged Iran to engage seriously on its nuclear and missile programs.
