In a forceful letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and UNSC President Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi urged the Security Council to officially recognize the United States and Israel as the initiators of aggression against Iran. Citing the UN Charter and international law, Araghchi accused both powers of reckless attacks on civilian infrastructure and Iran’s safeguarded nuclear sites.
Araghchi highlighted that on June 13, Israel launched major airstrikes on residential areas and nuclear and military facilities, resulting in the deaths of senior commanders, nuclear scientists and numerous civilians. Iran’s response came in the form of multiple missile and drone attacks on Israeli territory, marking a rapid escalation in cross-border hostilities.
Just nine days later, on June 22, U.S. forces struck three Iranian nuclear facilities—sites under the protection of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Iran retaliated by targeting the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, underscoring the crisis’s widening reach across the region.
After a 12-day cycle of airstrikes and counterstrikes, both sides agreed to a ceasefire on Tuesday. In his letter, Araghchi called on the UNSC to fulfill its duty to maintain international peace and security by holding the "aggressors" accountable and preventing future violations.
This appeal raises pressing questions about the UN’s capacity to rein in powerful states and enforce international law. As young global citizens track these developments, the outcome could redefine multilateralism and the rules-based order in an increasingly fractured world.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
