US ambassador accuses Iran of inciting Hezbollah, threatening 'Israel'

The US ambassador to the United Nations Security Council, Dorothy Shea, issued a series of urgent statements on Friday condemning Iran’s recent actions in the escalating conflict with 'Israel'.

She accused the Iranian government of encouraging Hezbollah to open a front from Lebanon and repeatedly calling for the destruction of 'Israel'. Shea also condemned Iran for launching both direct and proxy attacks against 'Israeli' civilians, emphasizing that these acts violate international norms.

Addressing nuclear tensions, she warned that Iran would gain nothing from escalating its disputes with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and urged Tehran to abandon its ambitions to acquire nuclear weapons.

Shea delivered her remarks during a UN Security Council meeting on threats to international peace and security, held at United Nations headquarters in Washington, DC, on June 20, 2025. The Council convened an emergency session to address the rapidly escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. The meeting was requested by Iran and supported by Algeria, China, Pakistan, and Russia.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres also addressed the Council, calling for an immediate ceasefire and de-escalation. “There are times when the choices before us are not just important but decisive. We are at such a moment — a moment that will determine not only the fate of nations but perhaps our shared future,” he said.

Guterres warned that the violence between Iran and 'Israel' was pushing the region to the brink, stating, “We are not being pushed into a crisis; we are rushing toward one. These are not isolated incidents — we are heading down a path of potential chaos.”

“The widening scope of this conflict could ignite a powder keg no one can control. We cannot allow that to happen,” he said, renewing his call to end the fighting and resume serious negotiations. “Let us not look back on this critical moment with regret. Let us act responsibly together to save the region and the world from the brink.”

Meanwhile, European diplomats are expected to present Iran with a “comprehensive negotiation proposal” in Switzerland, primarily addressing nuclear concerns. US President Donald Trump has said he will decide within two weeks on a potential US military intervention in support of Israel.