NEW YORK (Azat TV) – The United Nations Security Council convened an emergency meeting on Saturday, February 28, 2026, in New York, following a significant escalation of hostilities in the Middle East marked by joint US-Israeli airstrikes against Iran and subsequent retaliatory missile attacks from Tehran. The urgent session underscored global alarm over a potential wider conflict, especially in light of reports by The Associated Press that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the attack. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the actions of all parties and called for an immediate de-escalation.
The emergency meeting was requested by Russia, France, China, Bahrain, and Colombia. Russia’s mission to the UN stated its request stemmed from what it termed “the unprovoked act of armed aggression by the United States and Israel against the Islamic Republic of Iran.” During the session, Russia intended to demand an immediate cessation of ‘illegal and escalatory actions’ from the United States and Israel, urging a path toward political and diplomatic settlement, as reported by The Times of Israel.
UN Security Council Addresses Middle East Escalation
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivered a strong condemnation of the escalating situation, urging an ‘immediate cessation of hostilities and de-escalation.’ He warned that the attacks, including Iran’s retaliation, undermine international peace and security, risking ‘igniting a chain of events that nobody can control in the most volatile region of the world,’ according to UN News. Guterres emphasized that ‘everything must be done to prevent further escalation.’ He also specifically condemned Iran’s retaliatory attacks for violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in a letter to the United Nations, called on the Security Council to take ‘immediate’ steps to halt what Tehran described as illegal aggression by the United States and Israel. Araghchi asserted that the council must ‘address the US and Israeli regime’s acts of aggression’ and ‘take the necessary and immediate measures to halt this unlawful use of force.’ He stressed that the United States and the Israeli regime would ‘bear full and direct responsibility for all ensuing consequences, including any escalation arising from their unlawful actions.’
Global Leaders Urge Calm Amid Iran Tensions
Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon, speaking to reporters before the meeting, dismissed the condemnation of the airstrikes as ‘hypocrisy,’ according to adn.com. The emergency session took place on the final day of the United Kingdom’s presidency of the Security Council, just ahead of the United States assuming the rotating presidency for the month of March. The high-stakes meeting highlighted the deep divisions within the international body regarding the conflict.
The three countries part of the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran—France, Germany, and the UK—have previously led efforts to reach a negotiated solution, though former US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the U.S. from the deal in 2018. This historical context underscores the fragility of diplomatic efforts in the region, which some observers, including IAEA chief Rafael Grossi, had seen as the ‘last chances to avoid a conflict’ during talks held earlier in February.
Iran Strikes Spark Broader Regional Concerns
The joint US-Israeli military campaign against Iran commenced on Saturday morning, with waves of attacks targeting sites across the Islamic Republic throughout the day. In response, Iran vowed a crushing response, launching repeated missile barrages at Israel starting at approximately 10 a.m. local time, forcing millions into shelters as air defenses worked to intercept incoming threats. The Magen David Adom ambulance service reported treating 90 people for light injuries, mostly indirect, as a result of the Iranian attacks.
Beyond Israel, Iran was also reported to have launched missile attacks on multiple countries hosting American troops across the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain. These broader attacks further amplified regional instability and drew strong condemnation from the UN Secretary-General for violating national sovereignties.
IAEA Meeting Requested Amid Nuclear Program Claims
In a related development, Iran called for an emergency meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) board of governors to discuss what it termed ‘baseless’ US and Israeli claims regarding Tehran’s atomic program. Iran’s mission to the Vienna-based agency stated via X that ‘baseless claims, vicious threats and wrongful acts of aggressors against Iran’s peaceful nuclear program shall be addressed by the Board immediately.’ The UN nuclear watchdog had previously stressed the ‘utmost urgency’ of its request to verify all nuclear material in Iran, according to a confidential report seen by AFP.
The emergency Security Council meeting, coupled with the reported death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, underscores a critical inflection point in Middle East stability, demanding immediate and sustained diplomatic engagement to prevent further regional destabilization.