For years, Iranian-backed militias and terror groups attacked countries, and Iran carried out attacks directly, but the regime never seemed to face any censure.
By SETH J. FRANTZMAN |
United Nations Security Council 6. Photo by The White House – https://www.flickr.com/photos/202101414@N05/55128178997/, Public Domain, Wikipedia
The UN Security Council on Wednesday voted in favor of a resolution condemning Iran. This is highly unusual for Tehran. Previously, Iran’s regime has been able to spread havoc all over the Middle East, and around the world, without facing consequences.
For years, Iranian-backed militias and terror groups attacked countries, and Iran carried out attacks directly, such as a 2019 attack on Saudi Arabia using drones and cruise missiles. Iran was linked to assassinations in Europe and other plots. However, the regime never seemed to face any censure.
Now, with Iran attacking a dozen countries in the Middle East in the wake of the US and Israeli attack on Iran, Tehran is facing consequences for its action. The Arab states are angry at Iran’s attacks. Iran has launched thousands of drones and cruise missiles in the last twelve days. As Arab News noted, “Resolution 2817, tabled by Bahrain on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council, was co-sponsored by 135 countries, representing one of the largest shows of support for a Security Council resolution in recent years.”
The UN resolution is clear. It “condemns unequivocally, in the strongest terms,” the attacks, calling them a breach of international law. The resolution also demands that Iran stop these attacks. The countries that have been attacked are also provided affirmation in the resolution, should they choose to carry out self-defense operations.
135 countries condemn Iran at UN vote
A total of 135 countries co-sponsored the resolution, marking that Iran is clearly isolated now. Countries such as the UK are speaking up about the need to protect trade routes. Arab News also noted that “Jerome Bonnafont, France’s permanent representative to the UN, said the resolution sends a clear signal in condemning the ‘indiscriminate strikes waged by Iran against its regional neighbors.’” In addition, “Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, said Tehran was attacking states in the region out of desperation as international patience with its actions was wearing thin.” Danon said “the regime in Tehran is trying to export terror and destruction but even the Security Council is running out of patience with Iranian aggression.”
China also said that it has condemned attacks on civilians and non-military targets. China’s ambassador to the UN, Fu Cong, said “the fundamental way to prevent further deterioration of the situation is for the United States and Israel to cease their military operations.”
Iran’s tentacles also stretched far abroad, to South America, Turkey, Europe, and Asia. For many years Iran got away with this. Countries were afraid to condemn it. Even as Iran launched ballistic missiles and drones at its neighbors in Iraq and Pakistan, and trafficked weapons to Yemen and other places.
The recent war has shown that the era where Iran gets appeased may be coming to an end.
In 2016 Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani went to Italy. He visited a museum where the officials covered up nude statues in order to not “offend” him. The era when Iranian leaders get this treatment is coming to an end apparently.
Not long ago, Iran’s foreign minister Javad Zarif would go to Europe and meet officials and smile. No longer.
Isn’t it nice for someone else to be condemned for a change!
That Russia and China, Iran’s presumed allies, abstained from the UNSC resolution rather than vetoing it, carries a profound message, i.e., apparently the impressive show of force by the US and Israel against the fanatical Iranian regime has made Russia and China question their alliance with the Islamist rulers of Iran!
Hopefully, they are also having second thoughts about continuing to provoke the world’s greatest superpower, the US, with aggressive actions in Ukraine and Taiwan.