United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called for maximum restraint on Sunday after Iran’s attack on Israel, as he reminded members of the world body that acts of reprisal involving the use of force are barred under international law.
Iran launched the attack over a suspected Israeli strike on its embassy compound in Syria on April 1 that killed top Revolutionary Guards commanders and followed months of clashes between Israel and Iran's regional allies, triggered by the war in Gaza.
Guterres reiterated his condemnation of the attack he put forward the previous night and called for the immediate cessation of hostilities.
“I remind all member states that the Charter of the United Nations prohibits the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any states or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations,” said the Secretary-General but also added that “Furthermore, the principle of the inviolability of diplomatic and consular premises and personnel must be respected in all cases in accordance with international law. As I stated when condemning the one April [April 1] attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus.”
He said that all “have a shared responsibility to actively engage all parties concerned to prevent further escalation,” and pointed out that as per the Friendly Nations Declaration of 1970 “Acts of reprisal involving the use of force are buried under international law.”
Guterres also called again for “an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid.”
“The Middle East is on the brink. The people of the region are confronting the real danger of a devastating full-scale conflict. Now is the time to defuse and de-escalate,” Guterres told a meeting of the U.N. Security Council.
Guterres reiterated his condemnation of the attack he put forward the previous night and called for the immediate cessation of hostilities.
“I remind all member states that the Charter of the United Nations prohibits the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any states or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations,” said the Secretary-General but also added that “Furthermore, the principle of the inviolability of diplomatic and consular premises and personnel must be respected in all cases in accordance with international law. As I stated when condemning the one April [April 1] attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus.”
He said that all “have a shared responsibility to actively engage all parties concerned to prevent further escalation,” and pointed out that as per the Friendly Nations Declaration of 1970 “Acts of reprisal involving the use of force are buried under international law.”
Guterres also called again for “an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid.”
“The Middle East is on the brink. The people of the region are confronting the real danger of a devastating full-scale conflict. Now is the time to defuse and de-escalate,” Guterres told a meeting of the U.N. Security Council.
Source: Reuters
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