Pezeshkian slams UN 'disappointing' response on Gaza, Lebanon

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday delivered a sharp critique of the United Nations and its Security Council over their handling of the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, telling leaders gathered in Kyrgyzstan that the international body had failed to effectively address threats to global stability.

Speaking at the SCO Plus meeting in Bishkek as part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, Pezeshkian listed military aggression, genocide, war crimes and illegal sanctions as pressing global challenges. "The performance of the United Nations and the UN Security Council in dealing with these developments, including in Gaza, Lebanon and the recent aggression against Iran, has been very disappointing," he said, according to Anadolu Agency.

Accusations against US and Israel

The Iranian president accused the United States and Israel of breaching the UN Charter during their recent conflict with Iran, citing attacks on civilians, educational and medical facilities, critical infrastructure and nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards. He emphasized that Iran had not initiated hostilities but acted solely in self-defense, noting that Tehran continues to view diplomacy as the primary avenue for resolving disputes.

Diplomatic path and memorandum

"Diplomacy without good faith, without respect for commitments and without refraining from the use of force cannot create lasting peace," Pezeshkian said, adding that Washington had repeatedly violated commitments under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding reached in June. That agreement, brokered by Pakistan and Qatar after 40 days of fighting, established a framework for ending hostilities and resuming negotiations alongside provisions concerning the Strait of Hormuz.

Multipolar order and SCO role

Pezeshkian warned that the emergence of a multipolar world must not result in replacing one dominant power with another, calling instead for a more representative and effective UN and Security Council based on sovereign equality and respect for international law. He stated that SCO Plus countries possess the political, economic and geographical weight necessary to shape a fair international order, as the organization — founded in 2001 and comprising 10 members including Iran since 2023 — convened alongside invited nations for broader regional dialogue.