Implement Peace Deal Now, Speakers Urge, as Security Council Meets in Wake of Resumed Military Confrontation between United States, Iran

In an emergency session following resumed confrontation between the United States and Iran, the Security Council today heard of the need to implement the peace deal recently reached between the two countries lest the situation spiral further.

On 28 February, the United States and Israel launched military strikes on Iran, following which Tehran attacked the former's army bases in the Gulf region. Shortly thereafter, the Council adopted resolution 2817 (2026), condemning Iran's "egregious" attacks against neighbouring Gulf States.

Another resolution that would have encouraged countries to deter attempts to interfere with international navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a major maritime chokepoint, was vetoed by China and the Russian Federation. Since then, navigation in the waterway has been fraught, and attacks on regional infrastructure have continued.

"The events of the weekend serve as a stark reminder of the fragility of the current situation and the acute risks of further escalation," said Elizabeth Spehar, Assistant Secretary-General in the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs. She then presented the facts "as we understand them".

She said that an Iranian drone struck the Singapore-flagged cargo vessel Ever Lovely as it attempted to transit the Strait of Hormuz on 25 June. Around the same time, a drone struck the Panama-flagged tanker Kiku near the Strait as it transited along the coast of Oman. She noted that the United States described these incidents as violations of the memorandum of understanding between itself and Iran, as well as threats to freedom of navigation.

On 26 June, the United States struck Iran's coastal military infrastructure, followed by a second wave of strikes the following day, she said, after which both countries asserted the other was not in compliance with the agreed ceasefire. Overnight into 28 June, Iran said that it had targeted United States military infrastructure in the Gulf, including an air base in Kuwait and a naval headquarters in Bahrain. This followed earlier Iranian drone attacks on Bahraini territory on 27 June. Further strikes by the United States on Iran occurred subsequently.

Risk of Miscalculation Rising with Each New Strike, Incident

She reported that, on 28 June, the two countries agreed to cease attacks on one another, and it was announced that Qatar would host indirect talks between the parties in Doha starting on 30 June. "These talks are ongoing," she noted, adding that the breadth of regional diplomatic engagement "reflects the gravity of this moment". She stressed that "each new strike, each new interception [and] each new maritime incident increases the risk of miscalculation", adding: "A return to full-scale hostilities would have catastrophic consequences."

"At this juncture, the unified support of this Council for diplomacy is more important than ever," she concluded.

Suffering Hundreds of Attacks, Bahrain and Kuwait Reject Iran's Claims

Representing Bahrain, who requested today's meeting, Minister for Foreign Affairs Abdullatif bin Rashid al Zayani said that his country has suffered a total of 808 attacks - involving 203 ballistic missiles and 605 drones - since 28 February. "These attacks deliberately targeted civilian facilities, critical infrastructure and residential areas," he stressed, adding that this disproves Iran's claim that its attacks are directed solely against military objectives.

On that, he detailed an Iranian drone strike on an ammonia storage tank located within a densely populated residential area on 5 April, which could have resulted in a "catastrophic humanitarian disaster" had it not been emptied as a precautionary measure. He also rejected Iran's claim that its aggression is merely a response to the acts of another State, underscoring that Bahrain "is not a party to any conflict".

Stressing that these attacks violate resolution 2817 (2026), he said that the value of Council resolutions lies not in their adoption, but in their implementation. "We are confident that this Council will rise to that responsibility," he concluded.

Kuwait's representative agreed. And condemning Iran's "repeated pattern of hostilities" against his country - including 893 drone attacks and 873 ballistic-missile attacks - he stressed that his country has not allowed the use of its territories, airspace or waters to launch hostilities towards any country. Urging diplomacy, he said that relevant agreements should not remain "ink on paper".

Iran Must Reopen Strait of Hormuz, Focus on Multinational Defence Mission

The representative of the United States also took issue with Iran's claim that its reprisals are limited to the United States and Israel. Citing a UN finding that Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz will have lasting effects on 61 developing economies, he said that Tehran has stopped every ship attempting to transit the Strait. "It didn't matter if the ship was carrying fertilizers to farmers in Africa, aid to Sudan, fuel to Japan" or "whether they were involved in this conflict or not", he stressed.

On that, Panama's representative condemned the attack against a Panama-flagged ship carrying 2 million barrels of oil through the Strait. "This event is absolutely unacceptable and represents a grave threat to international maritime security," he underscored. The representatives of Greece and Denmark agreed that freedom of navigation in the Strait must be protected, while the representatives of France and the United Kingdom spotlighted the multinational "defensive" mission jointly led by their countries to this end.

"For months now, Iran has inflicted suffering on the most vulnerable around the globe by disrupting global supply chains," said Latvia's representative, also joining others in condemning Iran's "reckless" attacks against Bahrain and Kuwait. Adding that Tehran has supplied Moscow with armaments for its war against Ukraine - "the same weapons it is now using against its neighbours in the Gulf" - she declared: "A long-term, sustainable solution to the threat Iran poses to the international rules-based order must be found."

Tehran: Accusations against Iran Are Baseless, United States Is Real Aggressor

However, Iran's representative said that, as negotiations continue, the Council is "expected to refrain from convening a meeting that risks undermining these ongoing efforts". He also rejected the "baseless allegations" made by the United States, as well as the "unfounded accusations" made by certain Western Council members and Bahrain. Underscoring that "the facts are clear", he said: "Together with the Israeli regime, the United States betrayed diplomacy twice and launched two wars of aggression against Iran."

He stressed that the role of victim and aggressor must not be reversed, recalling attacks on his country by Israel and the United States both in June 2025 and in February-April 2026. He said that the United States deliberately targeted civilian populations and infrastructure during that time, adding that its President "publicly admitted to - and openly boasted about - committing these heinous war crimes". Further, the United States has repeatedly violated the April ceasefire, and he emphasized that his country's "defensive measures" were directed against United States military facilities, bases and assets.

"Iran, like any other UN Member State, has the right to self-defence" in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, emphasized the representative of the Russian Federation. The root cause of this escalation, she added, is the aggression by the United States and Israel against Iran, and she expressed regret that "our Arab friends were, once again, held hostage to yet another exchange of strikes between Washington and Tehran".

Calls to Continue Pakistan-Facilitated Dialogue

For his part, Pakistan's representative pointed to ongoing talks facilitated by his country and Qatar. "The fact that talks are continuing - and the parties are at the negotiating table - is a significant positive outcome," he said, adding that the channels of communication remain open. Liberia's representative, also speaking for Somalia and July Council President Democratic Republic of the Congo, urged the parties to protect the integrity of these fragile talks. "A diplomatic opening, once closed, is rarely easily restored," he cautioned.

Also noting the fragility of this process, Colombia's representative urged efforts to prevent the current escalation from "reducing or shutting off the political space that has begun to emerge". China's representative added: "Facts have proven, time and again, that neither force nor might can resolve problems, and that dialogue and negotiation is the only right choice."

However, the parties appeared far apart as they took the floor again at the end of the meeting.

Recalling that his counterpart from Iran suggested that the Council should not meet on this issue, the representative of the United States said: "Let me remind you where you are. This is not Tehran, this is the United States of America - this is the United Nations Security Council - [and] you will not silence this body." Again rejecting Tehran's assertions of self-defence, he said its actions are a "cynical, sad and sick attempt at global blackmail" and added that the Council - "if it has a backbone" - will not stand for it.

Iran's representative, meanwhile, said that the presence of United States bases in Gulf States "not only does not bring security to their countries, but also makes their countries vulnerable". He also stressed that 70 per cent of United States taxpayers oppose their country's "war policy towards Iran" and believe that "American interests have been sacrificed for Israeli interests". He stressed: "You can close your eyes and ears, but you cannot change the truth."

For his part, Bahrain's representative stated that Iran must immediately and fully adhere to resolution 2817 (2026), adding: "Agreements are not measured by what is announced when they are signed, but, rather, by what is implemented afterwards."