India backs UNSC resolution slamming Iran's 'egregious attacks' on neighbours; Tehran says 'make no mistake ...'

Representative image (UNSC)

• India supports UNSC resolution condemning Iran's attacks on GCC
• Resolution demands Iran halt attacks and threats to neighbors
• Iran rejects UNSC action, calls it unjust and unlawful

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India has joined more than 135 countries in backing a United Nations Security Council resolution condemning Iran’s “egregious” attacks on Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations and Jordan as the conflict in West Asia continues to escalate.

The United Nations Security Council adopted the Bahrain-led resolution on Wednesday with 13 votes in favour and abstentions from China and Russia, PTI reported.

India was among the co-sponsors of the resolution, alongside over 130 countries including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and US.

The resolution condemned in the “strongest terms the egregious attacks” by Iran against the territories of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan.

It also demanded the immediate cessation of all attacks by Tehran and called on Iran to halt threats and provocations against neighbouring countries, including actions through proxy groups.

The Council further denounced threats aimed at interfering with maritime trade and navigation, including any attempt to close or obstruct the Strait of Hormuz or threaten shipping through the Bab al-Mandab.

The resolution emphasised that the exercise of navigational rights and freedoms by merchant vessels must be respected, particularly along critical global shipping routes.

It also expressed solidarity with the affected countries and condemned attacks on residential areas and civilian objects, which the text said had resulted in civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure.

Speaking after the vote, US Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Mike Waltz said the adoption of the resolution “is a direct and unequivocal statement from the Gulf countries condemning the brutality of the Iranian regime, whose practice of targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure is reprehensible, and the entire world is calling it out for what it is”.

Waltz said President Donald Trump had exhausted diplomatic efforts before tensions escalated.

“He sought peace and to end 47 years of hostility and attacks, while Iran only sought more missiles, more drones, and a pathway to nuclear Armageddon. President Trump has drawn his red line here. Iran crossed it once again, and now the world is facing the consequences.

“And these consequences that the United States does not bring alone,” Waltz said expressing gratitude to the 135 countries that co-sponsored the resolution.

Iran has unleashed retaliatory missile and drone barrages on Gulf states hosting American bases, including Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and UAE after joint strikes by Israel and US led to the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Iran's IRGC has also announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, vowing to fire on any passing ships, halting oil flows and spiking Brent crude above $100 per barrel.

Iran rejects UNSC action

Iran later strongly rejected the Security Council’s move.

Iran’s Permanent Representative to the UN Amir Saeid Iravani described the Council’s action as “unjust and unlawful", inconsistent with the United Nations Charter and international law.

“Make no mistake: today it is Iran; tomorrow it could be any other sovereign state,” he said.

Iravani said that since the start of the conflict on February 28, US and Israeli strikes had killed more than 1,348 civilians and injured over 17,000, while damaging thousands of civilian structures.

“These include 16,191 residential homes, 1,617 commercial and service centres, 77 medical and pharmaceutical facilities, 65 schools and educational institutions, 16 Red Crescent buildings, and multiple energy infrastructure facilities.

“The scale and systematic nature of these attacks clearly constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity,” the Iranian envoy said.

Iravani said Iran remains committed to maintaining friendly relations with Gulf countries and denied that Tehran was targeting their sovereignty.

“Iran reemphasises that its defensive operations targeting United States military bases and facilities in the region are in no way against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the regional countries.

“Although the Israeli regime has succeeded in dragging the US into a regional conflict, Iran’s relations with its neighbours are rooted in long-standing historical, cultural, and geographical ties. Once the current tensions diminish, Iran and its neighbouring countries will inevitably return to their traditional relations of cooperation, mutual respect, and good neighbourliness,” he said.

He also rejected allegations that Iran had attempted to shut down shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, saying the claim “is simply untrue”.