UNITED NATIONS — Iran warned on Tuesday that a draft United Nations Security Council resolution sponsored by Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries risks severely damaging the credibility of the world body if adopted, as tensions continue to escalate following the war that erupted after Israel attacks Iran.
Speaking to reporters at UN headquarters in New York, Iran’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, said the proposed resolution would reward aggressors while punishing the victim of what Tehran describes as an unlawful military assault carried out by Israel with support from the United States.
“It is deeply regrettable that the Security Council continues to remain silent,” Iravani said during a media stakeout. “Some Council members are attempting to reverse the roles of victims and aggressors. They seek to reward the aggressor and punish the victims through a biased and politically motivated resolution.”
The Iranian diplomat warned that approving the measure would undermine the authority of the Security Council, the United Nations’ most powerful body tasked with maintaining international peace and security.
“Such action, if adopted, would severely damage and undermine the credibility and legitimacy of the Council,” Iravani said. “If adopted, it will be a stain on the credibility and reputation of the Security Council.”
The draft resolution, submitted by Bahrain on behalf of the GCC, condemns Iran’s retaliatory strikes against targets in Gulf states and calls for an immediate halt to such attacks. Iranian officials say the resolution ignores the broader context of the war, which they argue began with large-scale military strikes against Iranian territory.
War ignited after Israel attacks Iran
The diplomatic confrontation at the United Nations comes as the conflict that erupted after Israel attacks Iran on February 28 continues to reshape the security landscape of the Middle East.
That day, Israeli and US forces launched coordinated air and missile strikes across multiple Iranian cities, including Tehran, Isfahan and Qom, targeting military infrastructure and government facilities. The operation triggered the current regional war and opened a wider confrontation between Iran and the US-Israel alliance.
Iranian authorities said the initial wave of attacks caused extensive destruction and killed numerous civilians as well as senior Iranian officials. According to international reporting, Iran’s UN envoy said more than 1,300 civilians have been killed since the conflict began.
Tehran has repeatedly accused Israel and the United States of deliberately striking civilian areas, allegations both governments deny.
Iran launches retaliation across the region
In response to the attacks, Iran launched large-scale missile and drone strikes targeting Israeli territory and several US military installations across the Middle East.
The retaliation included what Iranian officials described as IRGC missile and drone strikes against US bases in the Gulf, escalating fears that the conflict could spread far beyond Israel and Iran.
Iran’s military response also involved attacks on installations hosting American troops. Tehran warned that US bases in the Middle East are legitimate war targets if Washington continues military operations.
Regional governments activated air-defense systems as missiles and drones crossed Gulf airspace. Among the most significant incidents was when Iran struck the US Al-Dhafra Air Base in the UAE, highlighting how quickly the conflict has expanded across the region.
According to US officials, the war has also injured American troops stationed in the Middle East. The Pentagon confirmed that about 140 US troops were injured in the conflict.
Intelligence war and covert operations
The military confrontation has been accompanied by a parallel intelligence war between the opposing sides.
Iranian authorities say security forces recently dismantled an espionage network and that Tehran arrested 30 alleged US-Israel spies accused of coordinating sabotage operations during the conflict.
Meanwhile, analysts have pointed to covert activities across the region, including claims that Iran accused Israel’s Mossad of involvement in a Saudi Aramco drone attack, further inflaming tensions between regional powers.
UN Security Council divided
The United Nations Security Council has struggled to adopt a unified response to the crisis.
Diplomats say the Security Council is preparing to vote on a resolution condemning Iran’s strikes, but negotiations remain difficult as major powers disagree over how to characterize the origins of the war.
Iran argues that the council’s credibility is at stake if it condemns Iranian retaliation while ignoring the original strikes that began the war.
Iravani warned that adopting the GCC resolution would embolden Israel and the United States to expand military operations.
Information battle surrounding the war
The war has also triggered fierce debates in international media and political circles.
In the United States, commentators have questioned how information about the war is being presented. Conservative host Tucker Carlson recently argued that Israel censored footage from the war, fueling controversy about media coverage of the conflict.
At the same time, critics have alleged that Washington is concealing the true scale of military losses, claiming the government is hiding American soldier deaths as Israel seeks additional military support.
Regional consequences and rising tensions
The conflict has already begun reshaping regional politics.
Some reports indicate that US diplomats fled Saudi Arabia as the war escalated, reflecting growing fears that the conflict could spill across the Middle East.
Within Iran, the political system is also adapting to the new wartime environment. Iranian media report that the IRGC backed Mojtaba Khamenei after Israeli strikes, a development seen by observers as part of efforts to stabilize leadership after the attack that killed the country’s supreme leader.
UN credibility under scrutiny
For Tehran, the debate surrounding the GCC resolution has become a broader test of the Security Council’s credibility.
Iranian officials argue that if the council condemns Iran’s response while failing to address the original strikes on its territory, it would signal that international institutions are unwilling to apply international law equally.
Such an outcome, Iravani said, would damage the reputation of the United Nations and weaken the global system meant to prevent wars between states.
“The credibility of this Council is on the line,” he told reporters.
Whether the resolution will move forward remains uncertain, as negotiations continue behind closed doors. But as the war triggered after Israel attacks Iran enters its second week, diplomats warn that decisions taken at the United Nations could shape both the future of the conflict and the authority of the global body itself.
