WANA (Mar 01) – An emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council was convened after the attack on Iran by the United States and Israel on Saturday morning, February 28, 2026. The meeting included the UN Secretary-General, who condemned the attack, expressing concern about its consequences in the region and issuing a warning.

 

The emergency session was requested by Iran, Russia, China, France, Bahrain, and Colombia, with the topic titled “Situation in the Middle East.” It was chaired by the United Kingdom, which holds the presidency of the council for this month (February).

 

At the beginning of the meeting, UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the US and Israel’s attacks on Iran and emphasised that the attacks came after the third round of indirect negotiations between the US and Iran, mediated by Oman.

 

Preparations for technical talks in Vienna the following week, and a new round of political negotiations, had already taken place. Guterres expressed deep regret that this diplomatic opportunity had been lost.

 

He added, “The region and the world now need a way out. I call for de-escalation and an immediate cessation of hostilities.”

 

Russia: The US and Israel Betrayed Diplomacy

Vasily Nebenzya, Russia’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN, stated that the United States and Israel attacked Iran again in the middle of negotiations, calling this an act of betrayal against diplomacy.

 

He criticised that the emergency meeting of the Security Council was called to discuss the attack on Iran under the topic of “Middle East Situation,” noting that Russia and China had requested the meeting due to threats to international peace and security, as had been raised in an earlier letter by Iran.

 

Respect for Iran’s Territorial Integrity

Chinese Ambassador to the UN, Fu Cong, condemned the attacks by the US and Israel, stressing that Iran’s territorial integrity must be respected. He described the US and Israeli attacks as reckless and condemned the use of force to resolve any international disputes.

 

Pakistan Condemns Attacks

Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UN, also condemned the “aggressive attacks” on Iran, calling on all parties to refrain from further attacks.

 

France: The Region Needs Peace

Jérôme Bonafont, France’s new Ambassador to the UN, announced that President Emmanuel Macron had called for today’s Security Council session. While not condemning the attacks by the US and Israel, he stated, “The region needs peace. We need Iran to respect its international obligations.” He called for de-escalation and emphasised that “respect for international law is essential for long-term security in the region and the world.”

 

Bonafont then referred to Iran’s responses to Israeli and US attacks, saying that France “strongly condemns” Iran’s attacks on multiple countries. He stated that France was ready to provide necessary protection to these countries if they requested it.

 

He claimed that the events today were part of Iran’s ongoing efforts to pursue its nuclear program and asserted that Iran had not used available opportunities to reach a deal.

 

The French Ambassador also criticised Iran for reducing cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), saying the agency could not ensure the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program.

 

Bahrain’s Response to the Attacks

Jamal Faris Al-Ruwai, Bahrain’s Ambassador to the UN, did not condemn the US and Israeli attacks but said that Bahrain never expected to be targeted by such “unjustified and unwarranted aggression.” He strongly condemned Iran’s missile attacks on vital facilities and residential areas in Bahrain, describing them as violations of Bahrain’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

 

The Bahraini representative referred to Iran’s response to the attacks as an assault on Bahrain, stating that “the Kingdom of Bahrain was attacked today, and the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, and Syria were also targeted.”

 

He claimed that these events demonstrated an escalating regional tension and argued that the attacks violated international laws and the UN Charter. Bahrain, he declared, would take a firm stance against such an assault and considered it an attack on the collective security of the entire region.

 

Colombia Emphasises Protection of Civilians

Leonor Salabaza Torres, Colombia’s Ambassador to the UN, stressed that “protection of human lives must always be at the center of international decisions.” She condemned any military action that violates the UN Charter, saying, “No country can unilaterally have the right to attack another country.”

 

She argued that when force replaces law, international order is weakened, and barbarism takes its place, with civilians being the first to suffer. Torres reaffirmed support for the goal of universal and complete nuclear disarmament and stated that Iran’s nuclear program must be exclusively for peaceful purposes.

 

Israel’s Representative Expresses Anger

Danny Danon, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, repeated justifications for the joint attack by Tel Aviv and Washington against Iran, saying: “For 47 years, the Islamic government of Iran has led its population with the slogan ‘Death to Israel, Death to America.'” Danon added that this anger was not from a radical fringe but was state-sanctioned hatred.

 

To justify the attack, he claimed: “Israel, today, alongside the United States, acted to stop an ‘existential threat before it becomes irreversible.’” He argued that this action was necessary because Iran had left no reasonable alternatives. Danon threatened that the joint efforts would continue as long as the threat remained.