UN chief declares 'the Middle East is on the brink' after Iran's missile attack ... trends now
The United Nations chief Antonio Guterres has declared that the Middle East is 'on the brink' and that those living in the region are facing 'a real danger of a devastating full-scale conflict'.
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the emergency meeting, which was called after Iran's attack: 'Regional - and indeed global - peace and security are being undermined by the hour. Neither the region nor the world can afford more war.'
Guterres said that acts of reprisal involving the use of force are barred under international law after Iran's attack on Israel, while the US warned the Security Council it would work to hold Tehran accountable at the UN.
Iran's ambassador insisted that the attack was 'in response to the Israeli regime's military aggression', highlighting the April 1 attack on an Iranian embassy building in Damascus which killed seven IRGC officers.
Amir Saeid Iravani said Iran's armed forces launched last night's attacks in 'self defence' and that they were 'necessary and proportionate, it was precise and only targeted military objectives.'
Israel's ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, requested on Saturday that the council hold the meeting. He held up a video of missiles raining down over the Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem as he highlighted the scale of the attack during his speech.
Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres (L) delivers opening remarks during a UN Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East
Iran's Ambassador to the United Nations Amir Saeid Iravani attends a meeting on the situation in the Middle East
Israeli Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan shows a video during a United Nations Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East
'This attack crossed every red line and Israel reserves the right to retaliate,' Erdan said. 'We are not a frog in boiling water, we are a nation of
