The United States warned Iran yesterday in the UN Security Council that severe consequences await it if it launches new attacks against Israel or against American military forces in the Middle East, Reuters reported.
"We will not hesitate to defend ourselves. Let it be clear. The United States does not want further escalation. We believe this should be the end of the direct exchange of fire between Israel and Iran," said US Permanent Representative to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield.
The UN Security Council met after Israel struck missile factories and other sites in Iran early Saturday morning. The Israeli strikes were a response to Iran's attack on Israel on October 1, when Tehran fired about 200 ballistic missiles at the Jewish state.
Iran's permanent representative to the UN, Amir Seyed Iravani, said Washington was "complicit" of Israel because of the military aid it provides to its ally.
"Iran has consistently sought the path of diplomacy. However, in its capacity as a sovereign state, the Islamic Republic of Iran reserves the primal right to respond to this act of aggression at a time of its choosing," the Iranian representative pointed out.
Israel's Permanent Representative to the UN Danny Danon called on the UN Security Council to introduce sanctions against Iran's military and economic infrastructure.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that officials from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East should be held accountable for “terrorist activities", Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
In a post in "Ex" Netanyahu added that permanent humanitarian aid must remain available to Gaza now and in the future.
Earlier yesterday, the Israeli parliament passed a law banning the activities of the United Nations Agency for the Assistance of Palestinian Refugees in the territory of Israel from next year, world agencies reported.
The law prohibits the Agency from carrying out “any activity” or provide any services in Israel, the Associated Press points out.
The law was passed with 92 votes “for" against only 10 votes “against“ after a heated debate between his supporters and opponents, mostly representatives of the Arab parties.
Israel has long been highly critical of the UN agency, and their relationship has soured since the start of the Gaza war between Israel and “Hamas” on October 7 last year. The Israeli government has accused some of the agency's employees of participating in the attack by the Palestinian Islamist movement in southern Israel, notes Agence France-Presse.
Even before the vote, the US said it was “deeply concerned” from the law. “We have made it clear to the Israeli government that we are deeply troubled by this draft law [...] and urge the Israeli government not to approve it,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters, reiterating the “decisive” role of the Agency in the distribution of humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip.
In London, the head of British diplomacy, David Lammy, expressed his “deep regret” for the introduction of the bill.