The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to convene on Saturday afternoon in New York to address the escalating conflict in the Middle East following recent military strikes carried out by the United States and Israel against Iran. This sudden surge in hostilities has heightened regional instability and raised global concerns about the potential for a broader confrontation. The 15-member council will gather at 4 p.m. local time (2100 GMT) to deliberate on the unfolding crisis.
The session will be presided over by the United Kingdom, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council for the month. The emergency meeting was called after Russia and China formally requested the council to respond to what they described as an unprovoked act of armed aggression targeting the Islamic Republic of Iran. Their appeal was supported by additional members including France, Bahrain, and Colombia, reflecting the widespread alarm over the recent developments.
In a statement issued ahead of the meeting, Russia’s mission to the UN emphasized the need for the United States and Israel to immediately halt their military actions, which Moscow characterized as illegal and dangerously escalatory. The statement underscored the importance of shifting towards a political and diplomatic resolution to the crisis, warning that continued violence could further destabilize the already fragile region.
Meanwhile, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is expected to address the Security Council during the session. Earlier on Saturday, Guterres released a public statement condemning the recent surge in military activity, highlighting that the use of force by the US and Israel against Iran, followed by retaliatory measures from Iran across the region, seriously undermines international peace and security. He urged all parties involved to immediately cease hostilities and pursue dialogue to prevent the situation from spiraling into a wider conflict.
Guterres stressed the grave risks posed to civilian populations and regional stability if the violence continues unchecked. He called on all sides to return to the negotiating table without delay, emphasizing that diplomatic engagement remains the only viable path to resolving the tensions. The upcoming Security Council meeting will be closely watched by the international community as it seeks to chart a course toward de-escalation and peace in a region long plagued by conflict.
