Israel calls for sanctions on Iran
Israel has called for fresh sanctions on Iran at a meeting of the UN security council.
Israel’s UN envoy, Gilad Erdan, has urged the council to “impose all possible sanctions on Iran before it’s too late” and “condemn Iran for their terror”, reports Agence France-Presse.
It’s as the UN secretary general called for restraint – fearing an escalation in the wake of Iran’s attacks on Israel.
“Neither the region nor the world can afford more war,” António Guterres told the body’s Security Council as it met to discuss Saturday’s Iranian attack.
“The Middle East is on the brink,” he warned. “The people of the region are confronting a real danger of a devastating full-scale conflict. Now is the time to defuse and de-escalate.”
Iran’s UN envoy, Amir Saeid Iravani, responded saying that the Islamic republic was exercising its “inherent right to self-defence” and “had no choice” but to act.
He insisted his country did “not seek escalation or war”, but would respond to any “threat or aggression”.
Iran’s mission to the United Nations also warned Washington to keep out of its conflict with Israel. It added in a message on X that “the matter can be deemed concluded”.
“However, should the Israeli regime make another mistake, Iran’s response will be considerably more severe.”
Iran launched its first ever direct attack on Israeli territory, in retaliation for a deadly airstrike widely blamed on Israel that destroyed Tehran’s consular building in Syria’s capital in April.
Key events
Let’s get some more detail on what emerged from the UN security council meeting called in the wake of Iran’s attack on Israel.
Israel’s UN ambassador Gilad Erdan said “the mask comes off and the gloves must come on”, calling on the body to “take action”, reports Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Erdan asked the Security Council to designate Iran’s Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organisation and to “impose all possible sanctions on Iran before it’s too late.”
In particular, he referred to the “snapback” mechanism that allows members of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal – which the United States exited in 2018 – to reimpose international sanctions against Tehran.
Iran’s UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani also addressed the meeting and lashed out at Israel:
“It is time for the security council to shoulder its responsibility and address the real threat to international peace and security,” Iravani said.
The body “must take urgent and punitive measures to compel this regime to stop a genocide against the people of Gaza.”
The rising tensions come against the backdrop of Israel’s six-month-old war against Hamas in Gaza, which began after the Palestinian militant group’s 7 October attack in Israel. 1,170 people, mostly civilians, died in that attack according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 33,729 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.
Since the 1979 Iranian revolution – Israel has been considered by Iran to be a sworn enemy and calls for Israel’s destruction.
Until now, Tehran had refrained from attacking Israel head-on, and the two countries have opted instead to confronting each other through third parties.
On Sunday United Nations secretary general António Guterres urged restraint:
“It’s time to step back from the brink,” Guterres said.
The Israel-Gaza is continuing – a conflict seen as a trigger for this current round of tensions in the Middle East.
In the latest developments, Agence France-Presse is reporting that thousands of Palestinians are filing along the coast road, heading north on Sunday, after hearing that several people managed to cross a closed checkpoint towards Gaza City.
Israel denies opening the checkpoint.
An AFP journalist saw mothers holding their children’s hands and families piling on to donkey carts with their luggage as they made the journey.
They hoped to cross a military checkpoint on Al-Rashid road south of Gaza City, but the Israeli army told AFP that reports the route was open were “not true”.
Israel started its war on Gaza after the 7 October Hamas attacks. More than 1.5 million Palestinians have taken refuge in the southern city Rafah, according to the United Nations.
Biden speaks to King of Jordan in call
The US president, Joe Biden, has posted on X about his call with Jordan’s King Abdullah II.
Biden said the call included discussion of the war in Gaza:
I spoke with His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan today about the situation in the Middle East. We agreed to remain in touch over the coming days as we continue to monitor the situation. We also discussed our efforts to increase critical humanitarian assistance to Gaza.
The King said any “escalatory measures” by Israel would lead to a broader conflict in the region, according to the Royal Court, Associated Press reports.
The US president says he also spoke with some of the US forces involved in shooting down the Iranian drones.
I spoke with His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan today about the situation in the Middle East. We agreed to remain in touch over the coming days as we continue to monitor the situation. We also discussed our efforts to increase critical humanitarian assistance to Gaza. pic.twitter.com/JJqo7trLNv
— President Biden (@POTUS) April 15, 2024
In the US, House Speaker Mike Johnson has said he will try to advance wartime aid for Israel this week, in the wake of Iran’s attack.
The attack has increased the pressure on Johnson, but also gave him an opportunity to underscore the urgency of approving the funding, reports Associated Press.
Johnson told Fox News that he and Republicans “understand the necessity of standing with Israel” and he would try this week to advance the aid.
“The details of that package are being put together right now,” he said. “We’re looking at the options and all these supplemental issues.”
Read more in our latest report on US funding to Israel and Ukraine:
Here’s our latest explainer on how the world is reacting to Iran’s attacks on Israel, including what happened at the UN security council meeting and Joe Biden’s warning to Israel that the US will not take part in any counteroffensive against Iran.
Read Adam Fulton’s piece here:
Israel set to reopen schools after Iran attack
Schools are due to reopen across Israel on Monday, Israel’s military has announced, after they were ordered closed due to Iran’s attack over the weekend.
After a “situational assessment”, the IDF said in a statement early Monday, “it was decided to restore educational activities across Israel”.
“In the areas of the northern border (with Lebanon) and communities near the Gaza Strip, educational activities will resume … with restrictions,” the statement continued, adding that curbs on large gatherings would also be lifted in most places, reports Agence France-Presse.
בתום הערכת מצב הוחלט כי החל מהיום בשעה 00:00, יבוצע שינוי במדיניות ההתגוננות של פיקוד העורף.
במסגרת השינויים הוחלט על חזרת הפעילויות החינוכיות בכל רחבי הארץ. באזורי הנחיה קו עימות ועוטף עזה יתאפשרו פעילויות חינוכיות בכפוף להגבלות>>
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) April 14, 2024
Let’s get more on that urgent G7 meeting called by US president Joe Biden and the subsequent statement that was released.
Here is some of that statement:
We, the leaders of the G7, unequivocally condemn in the strongest terms Iran’s direct and unprecedented attack against Israel.
Iran fired hundreds of drones and missiles towards Israel. Israel, with the help of its partners, defeated the attack. We express our full solidarity and support to Israel and its people and reaffirm our commitment towards its security.
With its actions, Iran has further stepped toward the destabilisation of the region and risks provoking an uncontrollable regional escalation. This must be avoided.
The statement also said “we will also strengthen our cooperation to end the crisis in Gaza, including by continuing to work towards an immediate and sustainable ceasefire and the release of hostages by Hamas, and deliver increased humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in need,” reports the Press Association (AP).
The Group of Seven advanced economies include Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Britain and the US.
Israel and Iran have accused one another at the United Nations of being the main threat to peace in the Middle East. Each side has called on the UN security council to impose sanctions.
Here are some images from that tense meeting:
It’s being reported that Turkish, Jordanian and Iraqi officials say that Iran gave wide notice days before its drone and missile attack on Israel – but US officials are disputing that line and say Tehran was aiming to cause significant damage.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said on Sunday that Iran gave neighbouring countries and the United States 72 hours’ notice it would launch the strikes, according to the Reuters news agency.
Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said it had spoken to both Washington and Tehran before the attack, adding it had conveyed messages as an intermediary.
“Iran said the reaction would be a response to Israel’s attack on its embassy in Damascus and that it would not go beyond this. We were aware of the possibilities. The developments were not a surprise,” said a Turkish diplomatic source.
But one senior official in US President Joe Biden’s administration denied Amirabdollahian’s statement, according to Reuters.
The official says Washington did have contact with Iran through Swiss intermediaries – but did not get notice 72 hours in advance.
“That is absolutely not true,” the official said. “They did not give a notification, nor did they give any sense of … ‘these will be the targets, so evacuate them.’”
Tehran sent the United States a message only after the strikes began and the intent was to be “highly destructive” said the official.
Two Iraqi sources, including a government security adviser and a security official, said Iran had used diplomatic channels to inform Baghdad about the attack at least three days before it happened.
Israel calls for sanctions on Iran
Israel has called for fresh sanctions on Iran at a meeting of the UN security council.
Israel’s UN envoy, Gilad Erdan, has urged the council to “impose all possible sanctions on Iran before it’s too late” and “condemn Iran for their terror”, reports Agence France-Presse.
It’s as the UN secretary general called for restraint – fearing an escalation in the wake of Iran’s attacks on Israel.
“Neither the region nor the world can afford more war,” António Guterres told the body’s Security Council as it met to discuss Saturday’s Iranian attack.
“The Middle East is on the brink,” he warned. “The people of the region are confronting a real danger of a devastating full-scale conflict. Now is the time to defuse and de-escalate.”
Iran’s UN envoy, Amir Saeid Iravani, responded saying that the Islamic republic was exercising its “inherent right to self-defence” and “had no choice” but to act.
He insisted his country did “not seek escalation or war”, but would respond to any “threat or aggression”.
Iran’s mission to the United Nations also warned Washington to keep out of its conflict with Israel. It added in a message on X that “the matter can be deemed concluded”.
“However, should the Israeli regime make another mistake, Iran’s response will be considerably more severe.”
Iran launched its first ever direct attack on Israeli territory, in retaliation for a deadly airstrike widely blamed on Israel that destroyed Tehran’s consular building in Syria’s capital in April.
Bethan McKernan
When Saddam Hussein embarked on his failed venture to capture Kuwait in 1991, the Iraqi dictator lobbed dozens of Scud missiles at Tel Aviv in the hope of provoking an Israeli retaliation that would split the US-Arab coalition moving against him. Washington convinced Israel’s then prime minister, Yitzhak Shamir, not to step into the fray, and all-out regional war was averted.
This weekend Iran became the first sovereign state in 33 years to directly attack Israel, launching hundreds of missiles and drones overnight. Benjamin Netanyahu could be said to be facing a similar dilemma to Shamir – but it is his own decisions and miscalculations since 7 October that have led Israel to this precarious juncture.
“In the past it’s been fairly accurate to say Bibi [Netanyahu] was not usually one to escalate things. In his wars with Hamas, he has preferred short, intense and limited wars he can calculate are under control,” said Dahlia Scheindlin, a political strategist and policy fellow at the Century Foundation, using the longtime Israeli leader’s well known moniker.
“The problem is, 7 October was a gamechanger …”
Read the rest of our Jerusalem correspondent’s analysis here:
US secretary of defence Lloyd Austin and Yoav Gallant speak
The US secretary of defence Lloyd Austin and the Israeli minister of defence Yoav Gallant have held a call to discuss events in the wake of Iran’s attacks.
It’s the third call between the pair this weekend, according to the US department of defense.
Here’s some of what the department had to say in a statement about the call:
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant today for a third time this weekend to review the successful combined operation by the United States, Israel, and their partners to defend Israel from unprecedented attacks launched from Iranian territory and by Iran’s proxies. The Secretary emphasized that while the United States does not seek escalation, we will continue to take all necessary action to defend Israel and U.S. personnel.
Israel’s war cabinet makes no decision on next steps – reports
Israel is quiet on its next steps against Iran, with an official reportedly saying the country’s war cabinet has met without making a decision on its next steps.
The war cabinet met late Sunday to discuss a possible response, but an Israeli official familiar with the talks has told Associated Press that no decisions have been made.
Asked about plans for retaliation, Israeli military spokesperson, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari declined to comment directly. “We are at high readiness in all fronts,” he said.
“We will build a regional coalition and collect the price from Iran, in the way and at the time that suits us,” said a key War Cabinet member, Benny Gantz.
But the Reuters news agency is reporting that there is a possible split in the cabinet over the timing and scale of an Israeli response, according to officials.
The five-member cabinet, in which Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz have decision-making powers, is expected to convene again for further discussions.
Iran launched its attack in response to a suspected Israeli strike on an Iranian consular building in Syria, killing two Iranian generals.
Both countries have been engaged in a shadow war for years, but Sunday’s assault was the first time Iran launched a direct military assault on Israel.
China and Russia react to Iran attacks
Countries and major organisations around the world have reacted to Iran’s strikes on Israel – including China and Russia.
Beijing urged restraint, calling the attack “the latest spillover of the Gaza conflict” and calling for the implementation of a recent UN security council resolution demanding a ceasefire, reports Agence France-Presse (AFP).
China calls on the international community, especially countries with influence, to play a constructive role for the peace and stability of the region
Russia also reacted. AFP reports:
Moscow expressed “extreme concern over the latest dangerous escalation in the region” and urged all sides to “show restraint”.
“We are counting on the regional states to solve the existing problems with political and diplomatic means,” the foreign ministry said.
Ukraine, fighting against Russia’s invasion, also had a response:
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy condemned the attack, saying Iran’s actions “threaten the entire region and the world, just as Russia’s actions threaten a larger conflict”.
And some of the other main reactions:
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen posted video on X where she condemned the attack, describing it as ‘unprecedented’.
Nato spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah said the military alliance is “monitoring developments closely”.
France involved in defending Israel during Iran attack
France says it carried out interception missions during Iran’s attack on Israel, according to the Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne.
“We took our responsibilities … we carried out interception missions,” Sejourne told local media on Sunday according to the Reuters news agency – but he didn’t elaborate further on the details of the action.
Israel’s chief military spokesperson said earlier on Sunday that France was among the countries involved in defending against the Iranian attack.
US military says it destroyed more than 80 drones intended for Israel
US Central command (Centcom) has posted on X a short time ago, saying it destroyed more than 80 one-way drones from Iran and Yemen on 13 April and 14 April that were intended to strike Israel.
Centcom says it was supported by US European Command destroyers and it included ballistic missiles:
On April 13 and the morning of April 14, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces, supported by U.S. European Command destroyers, successfully engaged and destroyed more than 80 one-way attack uncrewed aerial vehicles (OWA UAV) and at least six ballistic missiles intended to strike Israel from Iran and Yemen.
This includes a ballistic missile on its launcher vehicle and seven UAVs destroyed on the ground in Iranian-backed Houthi controlled areas of Yemen prior to their launch.
Defense of Israel Activities Update
On April 13 and the morning of April 14, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces, supported by U.S. European Command destroyers, successfully engaged and destroyed more than 80 one-way attack uncrewed aerial vehicles (OWA UAV) and at least six… pic.twitter.com/QYyk01o1Vs
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 14, 2024
UN secretary general calls for de-escalation
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called on members not to further escalate tensions with reprisals against Iran.
Guterres was speaking to a meeting of the UN security council called in the wake of Iran’s attack on Israel, Reuters reports.
Iran launched explosive drones and missiles on Saturday – its first ever direct attack on Israeli territory.
The attack was in response to a suspected Israeli strike on Iran’s embassy compound in Syria on 1 April. That attack killed top Revolutionary Guards commanders and followed months of clashes between Israel and Iran’s regional allies – triggered by the war in Gaza.
António Guterres condemned Iran’s attack on Israel and also said:
The Middle East is on the brink. The people of the region are confronting a real danger of a devastating full-scale conflict. Now is the time to defuse and de-escalate.
Meanwhile, Robert Wood, deputy US ambassador to the UN said the Security Council has an obligation to not let Iran’s actions go unanswered.
“In the coming days, and in consultation with other member states, the United States will explore additional measures to hold Iran accountable here at the United Nations,” he said, without providing specifics.
Iran’s UN ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani, said his country’s action was necessary and proportionate. He said that while Tehran does not seek an escalation or war in the region and has no intention of engaging in conflict with the US, Iran has a right to defend itself.
“If the US initiates military operations against Iran, its citizens, or its security and interests, Iran will use its inherent right to respond proportionately,” he said.
Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, accused Iran of violating international law at the meeting and played a video on a tablet that he said showed Israel’s interception of Iranian drones above Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa mosque compound, one of Islam’s holiest sites.
Erdan called on the Security Council to condemn Iran, reimpose sanctions and designate Iran’s Revolutionary Guards a terror organisation.
“The snooze button is no longer an option”, Erdan said.
Welcome and opening summary
It’s 2:47am in Tehran and 2:17am in Tel Aviv and Gaza. Welcome to our latest blog on the Israel-Gaza war and the wider Middle East crisis.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called on members not to further escalate tensions with reprisals against Iran, at a meeting of the UN security council called in the wake of Iran’s attack on Israel.
Iran launched a swarm of explosive drones and fired missiles on Saturday in its first-ever direct attack on Israeli territory, risking a major escalation. The attack was in response to a suspected Israeli strike on Iran’s embassy compound in Syria on 1 April that killed top Revolutionary Guards commanders and followed months of clashes between Israel and Iran’s regional allies, triggered by the war in Gaza.
“The Middle East is on the brink. The people of the region are confronting a real danger of a devastating full-scale conflict. Now is the time to defuse and de-escalate,” Guterres told the meeting.
More on that in a moment but first, here’s a summary of the latest developments:
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The Israel Defense Forces announced that it intercepted a UAV that approached Israel earlier this evening. In a post on X, the IDF wrote: “A Sa’ar 6-class corvette successfully intercepted a UAV that approached Israeli territory from the south-east using the ‘C-Dome’ Defense System earlier this evening.”
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UN chief António Guterres called for maximum restraint on Sunday following Iran’s retaliatory attacks on Israel, Reuters reports. In a UN security council meeting, Guterres said: “The Middle East is on the brink. The people of the region are confronting a real danger of a devastating full-scale conflict. Now is the time to defuse and de-escalate.”
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Jordan’s prime minister Bisher Khasawneh said that escalation in the region would lead to “dangerous paths,” Reuters reports. Speaking to the Jordanian cabinet, Khasawneh said. “The army will respond to anything that will jeopardise the security and safety of the kingdom and the sanctity of its airspace and territory in the face of any danger from any party with all the available means.”
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The G7 has released the following statement on Iran’s retaliatory attacks on Israel: “We, the leaders of the G7, unequivocally condemn in the strongest terms Iran’s direct and unprecedented attack against Israel … We express our full solidarity and support to Israel and its people and reaffirm our commitment towards its security.”
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Jordan has summoned the Iranian ambassador to protest against Iran’s comments which were regarded by Jordan as an interference in the kingdom’s internal affairs, Reuters reports. Speaking to Jordan’s state-owned Mamlaka news outlet, Safadi referred to comments made by Iranian official media which warned that Jordan would be the next target in the event it cooperated with Israel in a showdown with Iran.
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A senior Joe Biden administration official has told reporters on Sunday: “We are committed to defending Israel. We would not be a part of any response they do. This is a very consistent policy.” “Our aim is to de-escalate regional tensions. We do not want a broader regional conflict. Our focus has been to contain this crisis,” the official added.
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Iran’s action against Israel was a “legitimate act of self-defence,” Syria’s foreign minister Faisal Mekdad told his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in a phone call on Sunday. Syrian state media SANA further reports: “It is a legitimate right to self-defence against this racist Zionist entity, which does not respect international law and will, nor the Charter of the United Nations.”
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US air carrier United Airlines has cancelled Sunday’s planned flight from Newark, New Jersey, to Tel Aviv after rising regional tensions, Reuters reports. The flight was set to take off from Newark at 3:20pm local time and land in Tel Aviv at 8:55am local time.
