US Ambassador: Cannot Ignore Iran’s Regional Actions and Nuclear Ambitions

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, on Tuesday called on the Security Council to hold more sessions on the Islamic Republic, pointing to Iran’s nuclear ambitions and “mischievous” regional actions.

The main focus of Linda Thomas-Greenfield’s speech at the Security Council meeting on the “Middle East” centered on peace in the region.

The US Ambassador to the United Nations initially referred to her early-month visit to Israel, the West Bank, and Jordan, stating that the visit reaffirmed the United States’ support for a two-state solution, a solution we still firmly believe is viable – a solution under which citizens live in a Jewish and democratic Israel and alongside it exists an independent and stable Palestinian state.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield also said, I witnessed a serious security situation in Israel. Israel is regularly attacked by “terrorist organizations, including Hamas and Hezbollah, both of which are funded by Iran.”

The US Ambassador clarified that the impact of Iran’s mischievous actions in the region, its nuclear ambitions, and its hatred of Israel cannot be ignored.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield states that during her visit to Israel, citizens of that country also shared with her their concerns about the United Nations’ one-sided focus on Israel.

She added that the monthly Security Council meetings on the Middle East situation are almost exclusively focused on Israel.

The US Ambassador to the United Nations further emphasized that the attention of the UN Security Council should reflect all areas that threaten international peace and security, and we should have public sessions on Lebanon and hold more regular meetings on Iran.

These remarks came as the Axios news website reported on Monday, citing two American sources, that Israeli officials said the Islamic Republic intends to enrich uranium to 90 percent. High-concentration uranium is used for manufacturing nuclear weapons.

According to this report, Israel also believes this development could push Tehran to increase attacks against American forces and interests in the region through its forces in Yemen, Syria, and Iraq.

Palestinian Situation

Linda Thomas-Greenfield also stated that during her recent visit she heard the concerns of Palestinian citizens.

She said: I heard stories about Israeli settlers attacking Palestinians, looting homes, and destroying property in the West Bank, and this is a matter I extensively discussed with Israeli counterparts.

The US Ambassador to the United Nations continued, I was told that Palestinian families fear they will be forced to leave their homes because with the expansion of settlements, obtaining building permits (for Palestinians) is nearly impossible.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield clarified, American opposition to settlement expansion goes back decades. This is not something new for us. However, this practice has reached a critical point and now even undermines the practical feasibility of a two-state solution through negotiation.

Israel’s higher government council, which reviews construction plans in Jewish settlements in the West Bank, on the second day of Aban approved the construction of 1,355 new homes in seven settlements and published the corresponding construction bids.

This was the first construction project since the Naftali Bennett government took office and also the first settlement expansion plan during the ten months of the Joe Biden administration in America.

Israeli media described the current American government’s strong opposition to the construction plan as “the end of the honeymoon” in relations between the Joe Biden administration and the Naftali Bennett government.

The “two-state solution for two peoples” emphasizes the establishment of an independent Palestinian state (based on the pre-1967 borders in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem) alongside Israel.

Source: Radio Farda