UN Diplomat Quits, Warns Of 'Possible Nuclear Weapon Use' In Iran

UNITED NATIONS, Mar 30: A diplomat at the United Nations has resigned from his positions and accused the international body of preparing for a scenario involving the possible use of nuclear weapons in Iran. Mohamad Safa announced his resignation through a post on X, accompanied by a letter in which he set out his reasons for the decision.

Safa served as the main representative of Patriotic Vision, also known as PVA, at the United Nations. PVA is an international organisation that holds special consultative status at the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

According to the UN environment programme Champions of the Earth, Safa had been executive director of the Patriotic Vision Organisation since 2013. In 2016, PVA nominated him to become its permanent representative to the United Nations.

In the X post and accompanying letter, Safa said he reached the decision after much reflection. He claimed that some senior figures at the United Nations were serving a powerful lobby.

"I don't think people understand the gravity of the situation as the UN is preparing for possible nuclear weapon use in Iran," began the post which included a picture of Tehran.

UN's Guterres urges U.S., Israel to end war and Iran to stop attacking neighbours

BRUSSELS, Mar 19: United Nations General Secretary ‌Antonio Guterres on Thursday urged ⁠the United States and Israel to ‌stop the war ‌and called ‌on ⁠Iran to ⁠stop attacking its neighbours.

“It is high time to ‌end this war that is risking ‌to get completely out of control,” Guterres ⁠told reporters in Brussels after he ‌met with European Union leaders.

He also called for the ‌end to the closure of the ⁠Strait of Hormuz, which ⁠threatens the world economy.

UN maritime body urges 'safe maritime corridor' in Gulf

LONDON, Mar 19: The UN’s maritime body called Thursday for a safe shipping “corridor” in the Gulf to evacuate stranded vessels and seafarers, in a declaration following an emergency meeting that also condemned Iran.

Following two days of urgent talks in London convened because of the Middle East war, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) said in formal declaration that the “safe maritime corridor” should be established as “a provisional and urgent measure”.

The UN agency -- responsible for regulating international shipping safety -- added that the corridor must “facilitate the safe evacuation of merchant ships from the high-risk and affected areas to a safe place”.

UN chief condemns US-Israeli attacks on Iran at Security Council

UNITED NATIONS, Mar 1: The United Nations chief António Guterres has condemned the US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran on Saturday, and called for an immediate return to negotiations “to pull the region, and our world, back from the brink.”

Secretary-General António Guterres told an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council that everything must be done to prevent further escalation. “The alternative,” he warned, “is a potential wider conflict with grave consequences for civilians and regional stability.”

Guterres said the US and Israeli airstrikes violated international law, including the UN Charter. He also condemned Iran’s retaliatory attacks for violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The US ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, insisted the US military action was lawful.

“Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” he told the council. “That principle is not a matter of politics. It’s a matter of global security. And to that end, the United States is taking lawful actions.”

Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon defended the airstrikes as necessary to stop an existential threat.

“We are stopping extremism before it becomes unstoppable,” he said. “We will ensure that no radical regime armed with nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles can threaten our people or the entire world.”

Amir Saeid Iravani, Iranian ambassador to the U.N., told the council that the airstrikes have killed and injured hundreds of Iranian civilians, which he called a war crime and a crime against humanity.

He blasted the UN and the Security Council, its most powerful body, for not heeding Tehran’s warnings about the “warmongering statements” by the US in recent weeks and urged the council to act now.

“The issue before the council is straightforward: whether any member state may, including a permanent member of this council, through the use of force, coercion or aggression, determine the political future or system of another state or impose control over its affairs,” Iravani said.

Russia’s ambassador condemned the US-Israeli airstrikes, while China’s ambassador was more measured in his criticism.

“We demand that the United States and Israel immediately cease their aggressive actions,” Russian UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said. “We insist on the immediate resumption of political and diplomatic settlement efforts … based on international law, mutual respect and a balance of interests.”

China’s UN Ambassador Fu Cong said China was very concerned by “the sudden escalation of regional tensions” and supported Russia’s call for a return to diplomatic negotiations.

Five council members — Bahrain, which is the Arab representative on the council, France, Russia, China and Colombia — called for the emergency meeting.

In a joint statement, the leaders of Britain and France — both veto-wielding members of the council — along with Germany’s chancellor called for a resumption of US-Iranian talks on Tehran’s nuclear program. The three countries, part of the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, have led efforts to reach a negotiated solution. Trump pulled the US out of the deal in 2018.

The three European leaders strongly condemned Iranian airstrikes in the region — not the US-Israeli airstrikes — and urged Iran’s leaders to seek a negotiated solution, saying: “Ultimately, the Iranian people must be allowed to determine their future.”

The Security Council meeting is taking place on the last day of the United Kingdom’s presidency and a day before the United States takes over the rotating presidency for the month of March.