US Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a warning to Iran on Tuesday, saying the US would respond “strongly” to any attack as the international community feared a flare-up in the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas.
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“The United States does not seek conflict with Iran. We don’t want this war to expand. But if Iran or its proxies attack American personnel anywhere, make no mistake. “We will defend our people – we will defend our security – quickly and decisively,” Blinken told the United Nations Security Council.
The United States has accused Iran, an ally of Hamas and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, of “actively facilitating” attacks on bases housing American soldiers in the Middle East and has increased its military presence in the region.
In his speech, the American diplomatic chief also called on the Council to support a draft resolution by the United States that would reaffirm “the right of all states to individual or collective self-defense.”
Last week, the UN Security Council, divided on the Israeli-Palestinian issue, rejected a Russian proposed resolution calling for a “humanitarian ceasefire.”
A second draft resolution drafted by Brazil was blocked by an American veto, and Washington criticized that text for not mentioning “Israel’s right to self-defense.”
“Where is the outrage? Where is the disgust? Where is the rejection? “Where is the explicit condemnation of these horrors?” Mr. Blinken said after listing some of Hamas’ actions in its Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
“No member of this council – no country in this chamber – could or would tolerate the massacre of its people,” Mr. Blinken said.