Israel urgently calls for a UN Security Council meeting after Iranian assault

Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan sent a letter to U.N. Security Council President Vanessa Frazier requesting an emergency meeting of the council following Iran’s attack on Israel.

“I confirm Israel’s request to convene a meeting of the Security Council immediately to unequivocally condemn Iran for these grave violations and immediately act to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization,” Erdan said.

“Today, Iran has launched a direct attack from within its territory of more than 200 UAVs, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles towards Israel in clear violation of the UN Charter and international law,” he added, claiming that Iran violated Security Council Resolution 2231 with its attacks.

“The gravity and volume of the attacks are unprecedented, and are a flagrant violation of Israel’s sovereignty, of international law, and of Security Council resolutions,” he added. “Iran poses a direct threat to international peace. The time has come for the Security Council to take concrete action against the Iranian threat.”

However, Iranian Ambassador to the U.N. Saeed Iravani also wrote a letter to the Security Council on Saturday declaring Iran is in alignment with the U.N. Charter because its attacks were “in the exercise of Iran’s inherent right to self-defense” following the missile attack on the Iranian Consulate in Damascus, Syria, that killed several Iranian military officials, including Brig. Gen. Mohammad Reza Zahedi.

“Iran’s invocation of Article 51 of the UN Charter occurred following a 13-day period marked by the Security Council’s inaction and silence, coupled with its failure to condemn the Israeli regime’s aggressions,” the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the U.N. posted on X on Saturday. Certain countries’ precipitous condemnation of Iran’s exercise of its legitimate right suggests a reversal of roles, equating the victim with the criminal.”

Israel has not publicly claimed responsibility for the missile strike, but it was preparing for an attack from Iran throughout the weekend.

Iran also warned Israel and its allies not to counterattack following the Saturday strike.

“The matter can be deemed concluded,” it posted. “However, should the Israeli regime make another mistake, Iran’s response will be considerably more severe. It is a conflict between Iran and the rogue Israeli regime, from which the U.S. MUST STAY AWAY!

President Joe Biden had met with the National Security Council in the White House Situation Room earlier Saturday evening after returning to Washington, D.C., earlier than expected amid the threat of an attack.

“I just met with my national security team for an update on Iran’s attacks against Israel,” Biden posted on X. “Our commitment to Israel’s security against threats from Iran and its proxies is ironclad.”

The swarm of drones was Iran’s first direct attack on Israel despite the two nations having a history of enmity, and it usually relies on the militias across the Middle East that it has trained, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, to do so to preserve its deniability.

A diplomat told Reuters that the Security Council hopes to hold a meeting at 4 p.m. Eastern time on Sunday.

“I strongly condemn the serious escalation represented by the large-scale attack launched on Israel by the Islamic Republic of Iran this evening,” U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said following the attack. “I call for an immediate cessation of these hostilities.”

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“I am deeply alarmed about the very real danger of a devastating region-wide escalation,” he added. “I have repeatedly stressed that neither the region nor the world can afford another war.”

The Washington Examiner reached out to the U.N. Security Council for confirmation on the Sunday meeting.