By Nana Karikari, Senior Global Affairs Correspondent
The Middle East woke to a fundamentally altered geopolitical landscape Monday as the United Nations struggled to broker a ceasefire following a weekend of unprecedented violence. This escalation saw the confirmed death of Iran’s Supreme Leader and the first American combat casualties of the conflict. What began as a joint U.S.-Israeli aerial campaign on Saturday has rapidly evolved into a regional conflagration. It has left the UN Security Council deadlocked as the international community races to prevent a total collapse of regional stability.
Security Council Clashes Over “Operation Epic Fury”
The United Nations Security Council convened an emergency meeting late Saturday to address a dramatic military escalation in the Middle East after joint United States and Israeli forces launched extensive strikes against the Islamic Republic of Iran. The meeting followed a day of heavy aerial bombardments and retaliatory missile volleys that have pushed the region toward the brink of a full-scale war.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres issued a sharp rebuke of the military actions. In a statement released shortly before the session, Guterres condemned the “escalation” and expressed deep concern over the trajectory of the violence. “The use of force by the United States and Israel against Iran, and the subsequent retaliation by Iran across the region, undermine international peace and security,” Guterres said. He further urged all involved parties to pull back from the precipice, stating, “I call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and de-escalation.”
During the heated session, U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz defended the operation—codenamed “Operation Epic Fury”—as a lawful effort to dismantle nuclear and missile infrastructure. “Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” Waltz stated. “That principle is not a matter of politics; it is a matter of global security. And to that end, the United States is taking lawful actions.”
The meeting turned personal when Iranian Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani directed a warning to his American counterpart. “I advise the representative of the United States to be polite,” Iravani said. “It would be better for yourself and the country you represent.” Waltz fired back, refusing to “dignify” the comment with a response, noting he would not take lessons from a regime he characterized as a tyranny.
Israel’s Ambassador Danny Danon further justified the strikes as an “act of necessity” to stop an “existential threat.” Conversely, Iran’s Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani labeled the strikes “war crimes and a crime against humanity,” arguing that they were “entirely devoid of legal foundation.”
Diplomatic Push for Accountability
The emergency session was organized following urgent requests from a coalition led by French President Emmanuel Macron and supported by China, Russia, Bahrain, and Colombia. Macron warned of “grave consequences for international peace and security” should the situation spiral further.
The Russian mission described the strikes as “the unprovoked act of armed aggression by the United States and Israel against the Islamic Republic of Iran.” They demanded an immediate path toward a political settlement. Meanwhile, Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon remained resolute. “We are stopping extremism before it becomes unstoppable,” Danon told the Council. “We will ensure that no radical regime armed with nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles can threaten our people or the entire world.”
The Russian delegation indicated it would take a firm stance during the deliberations. “During the Security Council meeting, we will demand from the United States and Israel to immediately cease their illegal and escalatory actions and embark on a path toward a political and diplomatic settlement,” the mission stated.
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, also reached out to the international body through a formal letter. He demanded that the Security Council “address the US and Israeli regime’s acts of aggression” and “take the necessary and immediate measures to halt this unlawful use of force.” Araghchi warned that the responsibility for the fallout lies solely with the attacking nations. “The United States and the Israeli regime shall
bear full and direct responsibility for all ensuing consequences, including any escalation arising from their unlawful actions,” he added.
Atomic Watchdog Called to Action
Beyond the Security Council, Tehran has moved to engage the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna. Iranian officials requested an extraordinary meeting to challenge the justifications for the strikes. The request aims to challenge the justifications provided by Washington and Jerusalem for the military campaign.“Baseless claims, vicious threats and wrongful acts of aggressors against Iran’s peaceful nuclear program shall be addressed by the Board immediately,” the Iranian mission asserted.
The international response will continue to intensify today. The European Commission is scheduled to convene a “special Security College” on Monday to coordinate the EU’s position on the strikes and the burgeoning regional crisis. The IAEA also confirmed that its extraordinary session will begin today, Monday, March 2, at 9:00 a.m. in Vienna.
Regional Fallout and International Response
The joint military campaign triggered a swift and expansive Iranian response across the Middle East. While Israel’s Magen David Adom reported treating 90 people for light injuries, the regional impact was far more severe. The Pentagon confirmed Sunday that three U.S. troops were killed in retaliatory strikes targeting American assets in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain—marking the first U.S. combat fatalities of the conflict.
The political stakes reached a fever pitch early Saturday when President Trump announced that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been killed in the strikes. “We are stopping extremism before it becomes unstoppable,” the President signaled in his address. During the UN session, Iranian Ambassador Iravani countered by alleging the strikes killed numerous civilians and constituted a war crime.
Global reactions have been swift and cautionary. China expressed high levels of concern, insisting that “Iran’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity should be respected.” Meanwhile, Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi issued a direct plea to Washington on social media: “I urge the United States not to get sucked in further. This is not your war,” he wrote.
AU and ECOWAS Warn of Global Shockwaves
The African Union (AU) and ECOWAS issued urgent calls for restraint over the weekend. AU Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf described the strikes as a dangerous intensification of hostilities. ECOWAS warned that West African nations face severe economic shockwaves from rising oil and food prices. Both organizations emphasized that a prolonged conflict in the Gulf threatens energy security and humanitarian stability across the African continent.
A Region at a Crossroads
As the emergency Security Council session concluded, the primary focus shifted to whether the international community could enforce a ceasefire before the “crushing response” expands into a broader continental conflict. With the confirmed death of the Supreme Leader, the world now waits to see if the emerging leadership in Tehran will heed Guterres’s call to “strictly uphold their obligations under international law” or if the region will descend into a wider, more transparent war.
