Retaliation cannot be ‘use of force’, Guterres assures after actions by Iran and Israel

The Secretary General of the UN, António Guterres, recalled that international law prohibits “retaliatory actions that include the use of force,” as he said this Sunday before the Security Council in the convened emergency session.

Guterres’ call appears directed both at Iran – which justified Saturday’s attack as an act of retaliation for the bombing of its consulate in Damascus – and at Israel, which today said it reserves the right to respond to Iran’s attacks.

The representatives of Iran, Israel and Syria are invited to this emergency session, who are expected to speak after the intervention of the fifteen members of the Council.

Guterres said that “neither the region nor the world can afford another war,” and He insisted three times on the “common responsibility” that the international community has to avoid an escalation between Iran and Israel.achieve a ceasefire in Gaza, secure the release of hostages held by Hamas and prevent a deterioration in violence in the West Bank.

The UN leader acknowledged that both Israel and Iran have invoked the founding charter of the UN to justify their attitude, but he criticized both countries: Iran, for having launched “a large-scale attack” against Israel, and Israel ( without naming him) for having attacked the Iranian consulate on April 1, which enjoys “diplomatic inviolability.”

“It is vital that we avoid any action that could lead to a major confrontation on multiple fronts in the Middle East (where) “Civilians are already paying the highest price.”