United Nations: Gulf Cooperation Council countries have intercepted more than 954 missiles, 2,500 drones, and 17 aircraft launched by Iran, Bahrain’s UN envoy Jamal Fares Alrowaiei said, adding that GCC states will seek a condemnation of Tehran at the United Nations Security Council.
He said that the attacks on the six-member GCC are “disturbing trade and maritime routes, having an impact on the regional and international economy, and affecting everyone.”
The Iranian attacks were targeting “residential buildings and areas, food distribution facilities, airports, ports, energy installations and critical civilian infrastructure”, he said, speaking to reporters alongside other GCC diplomats outside the Council chambers on Wednesday (local time).
Bahrain is currently an elected member of the Council
The resolution, proposed by the GCC countries and Jordan, is scheduled to be taken up by the Council later on Monday.
If it comes to a vote, its adoption would depend on Russia and, perhaps, China, which have veto powers.
Moscow is likely to block the resolution, especially because the draft does not say anything about the US and Israel, which launched the initial attack last month.
United Arab Emirates Permanent Representative Mohamed Abushahab said that even though the UAE made “crystal clear that our land, airspace and territorial waters would not be used to attack Iran”, Tehran went ahead to attack his country.
The UAE deployed its defence resources to confront them, and “without those capabilities one can only imagine the damage and loss of lives that would have resulted from Iran’s reckless and unlawful attack”, he said.
He stated that the Iranian strikes affected individuals from 25 different countries.
His message to Iran, he said, was, “No force of hate or extremism will ever change the UAE model of tolerance and mutual coexistence.”
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spoke on Tuesday with Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and “expressed deep concern at the regional spillover and the impact of the ongoing conflict on the global economy.”
Guterres’ spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said during the call, “he recalled the need for all sides to fully respect international law and international humanitarian law, as well as to refrain from any attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure.”
The secretary-general had earlier met envoys of the GCC countries and had a phone call with Qatar’s Amir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
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