In a bold statement, Iran urges the UN to expel Israel, intensifying calls for accountability amid rising regional tensions.
Iran’s foreign ministry has urged the removal of Israel from the United Nations following claims by Syria that an IDF airstrike on Damascus resulted in multiple civilian casualties on Sunday.
According to Syria’s SANA state-run news agency, “the Israeli enemy carried out an aerial attack from the direction of the occupied Syrian Golan.” The report stated that the strike targeted a residential building in Sayyidah Zaynab, resulting in the deaths of several civilians, including women and children.
In a statement released on Monday, foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei “strongly condemned Sunday’s aggressive attack by the Zionist regime” and accused international organizations of ignoring alleged Israeli strikes.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) usually does not confirm or deny involvement in such attacks.
Baghaei also called on the international community to “implement tangible and effective actions against the Zionist regime, such as enforcing an arms embargo, removing the regime from United Nations membership, and holding its leaders accountable through prosecution and punishment.”
He claimed that Israel frequently attacks Syrian, Lebanese, and Palestinian territories without facing consequences due to its “unconditional support” from the US and “certain European nations.” He labeled these countries as “accomplices in the genocide and war crimes committed” by Israel in Gaza and other areas of the region.
Earlier this month, Malaysia drafted a resolution for the United Nations General Assembly, advocating for Israel’s removal from the international organization due to its actions in Palestine.
As Israel continues its military operation against Hamas militants in Gaza and faces growing tensions with Iran, its relations with the UN have become increasingly strained.
In early October, West Jerusalem declared UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres persona non grata, alleging that he did not explicitly condemn a prior Iranian missile attack on Israel. After Tehran’s strike, Guterres posted on X expressing his condemnation of the escalating Middle East conflict as a whole.
Over 100 UN member states have signed a letter condemning Israel’s decision regarding Guterres. The document emphasized that “such actions undermine the United Nations’ ability to fulfill its mission, which includes mediating conflicts and delivering humanitarian aid.”
