US will defend itself: Blinken warns Iran at UNSC meet

The United States stated before the UN on Tuesday that it does not seek a war with Iran, but Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a warning that if Iran or one of its proxies attacked American personnel anywhere, Washington would respond promptly and forcefully.

Blinken addressed the 15-member U.N. Security Council amid concerns from throughout the world that the conflict between Israel and Palestinian terrorists sponsored by Iran in the Gaza Strip could escalate into a larger fight that would involve Lebanon’s heavily armed Hezbollah.

“The United States does not seek conflict with Iran. We do not want this war to widen. But if Iran or its proxies attack U.S. personnel anywhere, make no mistake: we will defend our people, we will defend our security – swiftly and decisively.”

As worries about assaults by organisations supported by Iran grow, the U.S. military is taking unprecedented precautions to protect its personnel in the Middle East, officials tell Reuters. In an effort to dissuade Iran and forces with Iranian support, the United States has also dispatched fighter jets, two aircraft carriers, and warships to the region.

Requests for reaction regarding Blinken’s statements were not immediately answered by the Iranian representation to the UN. Later on Tuesday, Iran was scheduled to speak at the Security Council’s Middle East meeting.

“We call on all member states to send a firm, united message to any state or non-state actor that is considering opening another front in this conflict against Israel or who may target Israel’s partners, including the United States: don’t. Don’t throw fuel on the fire,” Blinken said.

Jordan’s foreign minister, Ayman Safadi, warned reporters at the UN that the threat of the conflict expanding was a “real danger” while standing with his Arab counterparts.

“We’re all doing everything we can to stop it. There’s the threat of this expanding into the West Bank, into Lebanon, into other fronts. None of us want that, we’re all working against that,” he said.

Concerned about “clear violations of international humanitarian law” in the Gaza Strip, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on Tuesday for civilians to be safeguarded in the conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants affiliated with Hamas.

Gaza’s health ministry reported that overnight Israeli airstrikes killed more than 700 Palestinians, marking the greatest 24-hour death toll since Israel started a bombing campaign to annihilate Hamas militants after their lethal Oct. 7 onslaught rocked the nation.

In a “crucial moment like this,” Guterres told the Security Council, it was essential to be clear that conflict has laws, beginning with the fundamental principle of respecting and defending civilians.

“It is important to also recognize the attacks by Hamas did not happen in a vacuum. The Palestinian people have been subjected to 56 years of suffocating occupation,” Guterres said.

“But the grievances of the Palestinian people cannot justify the appalling attacks by Hamas. And those appalling attacks cannot justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people,” he added.

Gilad Erdan, the ambassador of Israel to the United Nations, called Guterres’ remarks “shocking.” He demanded Guterres’ urgent resignation in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, and Eli Cohen, the visiting foreign minister of Israel, announced that he would no longer attend Guterres’ scheduled meeting later on Tuesday.

“I will not meet with the U.N. secretary-general. After Oct. 7 there is no room for a balanced approach. Hamas must be erased from the world!” Cohen wrote.

(With agency inputs)