Tehran calls US veto of UN Gaza resolution a 'license' for Israeli war
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Iran has strongly condemned the United States for vetoing a UN resolution that called for a ceasefire in Gaza, labeling the action as "disgraceful."
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Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei is seen here during a ministry press conference, undated. (X/@IRIMFA_SPOX)
Iran has condemned the United States for vetoing a UN resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, calling the move "disgraceful" and accusing it of granting a "license" for "Israel" to continue its violent actions in the region.
In a statement posted on X Thursday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei criticized the US for blocking the draft resolution, which had received 14 votes in favor at the UN Security Council.
He said, "This disgraceful veto not only marks another failure of the UNSC to uphold its Charter-based mandate but also serves as a US-granted license for the occupying regime to continue its carnage in Gaza and Lebanon with impunity."
Despite overwhelming global support for, and 14 #UNSC members' backing of #Gaza #ceasefire, the outgoing Democratic U.S. administration vetoed the draft resolution, revealing its full contempt for innocent lives & regional peace and adding to its 13 months long complicity in…
— Esmaeil Baghaei (@IRIMFA_SPOX) November 21, 2024
Baghaei also argued that the veto violated the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) principle to "respect and ensure respect" and the Genocide Convention, adding that the United States bore international responsibility for its complicity in "atrocity crimes."
The spokesperson emphasized that the US veto highlighted Washington's disregard for the lives of innocent Palestinians and its role in their massacre.
He wrote, "Despite overwhelming global support for, and 14 UNSC members' backing of Gaza ceasefire, the outgoing Democratic US administration vetoed the draft resolution, revealing its full contempt for innocent lives & regional peace and adding to its 13 months long complicity in Israel's genocide."
For fourth time US vetoes UNSC resolution advocating ceasefire in Gaza
The United States vetoed on Wednesday a UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza amid the ongoing Israeli war on the Strip, accusing other council members of cynically dismissing efforts to find a compromise.
The 15-member council voted on a resolution proposed by the 10 non-permanent members, which called for an "immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire" and demanded the release of captives. The US was the sole member to oppose the resolution, using its veto power as a permanent council member to block it.
A senior US official, speaking on the condition of anonymity before the vote, stated that the US would only support a resolution that specifically demands the immediate release of captives as part of any ceasefire agreement.
"As we stated many times before, we just can't support an unconditional ceasefire that does not call for the immediate release of hostages," the official said.
Ahead of the vote, the UK proposed new language that the US was willing to support as a compromise, but it was ultimately rejected, according to the US official.
It is worth noting that before the session and during the drafting process, which extended late into the night, "the United States objected to a clause referencing the provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice (ICJ)" against the Israeli regime, including the cessation of hostilities in Rafah, sources told Al Mayadeen.
The language was eventually revised to "delete any direct reference to the ICJ’s provisional measures but retained a statement affirming respect for the ICJ and its functions," as a compromise.
Moreover, the final draft resolution did not include a US request for "language establishing a permanent mechanism to review allegations raised by Israel regarding alleged ties between UNRWA staff and Hamas."
The US veto comes as the Israeli occupation continues its genocidal campaign against the Gaza Strip, killing 43,985 and injuring 104,092 since October 7. The Gaza Health Ministry announced that on the 411th day of genocide in Gaza, in 24 hours, the Israeli military committed two massacres, resulting in 13 martyrs and 84 injuries, with many victims still trapped under rubble or out of reach due to Israeli bombardment.
