UN Security Council Calls on Iran and US to Hold Negotiations

The UN Security Council, condemning attacks on several tankers in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, called on Iran and the United States to sit down at the negotiating table to reduce tensions in the region.

The UN Security Council, in its meeting on Monday, June 24, called on Iran and the United States to negotiate to reduce recent tensions in the region.

According to France Press Agency, all 15 members of the council condemned the attacks on several tankers in May and June in the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, calling it a threat to energy supply worldwide and to peace and security.

Based on diplomatic sources, the United States emphasized in the meeting that these attacks were carried out by “a state actor,” but Russia opposed this type of formulation. The US and some other countries hold Iran responsible for the attacks on the tankers. Iran has rejected this accusation.

After Iran’s attack on a US unmanned surveillance aircraft (drone) over the Persian Gulf, the United States requested the Security Council to hold a session on the matter.

The US military’s “Global Hawk” drone was shot down on the morning of June 20 by a missile fired by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps over the Persian Gulf waters. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is designated as a “terrorist” organization by the United States.

Donald Trump, the US president, prepared to attack some Iranian positions following this incident but halted the attack minutes before. Also, according to American media reports, the country conducted a cyber attack on some targets in Iran, which, according to Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s Communications Minister, “was not successful.”

On Monday, June 24, Trump imposed new sanctions against Iran, which include Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and his office. In addition to Khamenei, some commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ ground, naval, and aerospace forces are also on the new sanctions list. According to the US Treasury Secretary, Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will be added to this list within a few more days.

Iran Again Rejects Negotiations with the US

Following these developments, Iran again rejected negotiations with the United States. Majid Takhtravanji, Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations in New York, said: “The current conditions are not conducive to dialogue. One cannot sit at the negotiating table under the shadow of threats.”

He emphasized: “No reasonable mind can accept negotiations with someone who threatens more sanctions.”

Takhtavanji told reporters that Washington must end “military adventurism, war, and economic terrorism against the Iranian people.”

The United States, in view of escalating tensions with Iran, has strengthened its military presence in the Persian Gulf region.

Source: DW