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Security Council meeting in emergency session over Iran
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The UN Security Council is due to meet top of the hour in emergency session in the aftermath of major airstrikes across Iran by the United States and Israel. In retaliation, Tehran has launched its own attacks throughout the Middle East, with reports of strikes in Dubai, Doha, Bahrain and Kuwait – threatening to plunge the region into a broader conflict. US President Donald Trump has urged Iranians to “take over” the Government. UN chief António Guterres condemned the escalation, saying it undermines international peace and security. He’s due to brief ambassadors in New York. Follow our live coverage below. UN News app users can follow here and full meetings coverage can be found daily, here.
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28 February 2026 Peace and Security
The UN Security Council is due to meet top of the hour in emergency session in the aftermath of major airstrikes across Iran by the United States and Israel. In retaliation, Tehran has launched its own attacks throughout the Middle East, with reports of strikes in Dubai, Doha, Bahrain and Kuwait – threatening to plunge the region into a broader conflict. US President Donald Trump has urged Iranians to “take over” the Government. UN chief António Guterres condemned the escalation, saying it undermines international peace and security. He’ll be briefing ambassadors in New York. Follow our live coverage below. UN News app users can follow here and full meetings coverage can be found daily, here.
Today at UN Headquarters
Welcome to our live coverage in New York where the Security Council is due to hold an emergency meeting on the growing crisis in the Middle East following US and Israeli strikes on Iran early on Saturday.
Production team: Katherine Stephan, Matt Wells, Conor Lennon, Dan Dickinson, Ana Carmo
Today 12:12 AM
Secretary-General warns of 'grave threat', following Iran strikes
Addressing the Council, Secretary-General António Guterres, focused his remarks on principles, facts and “the way out”.
Quoting from the UN Charter, he said: “All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.”
International law and international humanitarian law must always be respected, he stressed.
This is why he condemned the massive military strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran – and the subsequent attacks by Iran, violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
“We are witnessing a grave threat to international peace and security,” he warned.
“Let me be clear: There is no viable alternative to the peace settlement of international disputes."
Today 12:08 AM
Middle East WHO chief urges 'immediate restraint and de-escalation'
Hanan Balkhy, head of the World Health Organization Eastern Mediterranean region, has expressed his "deep alarm" at the escalation of hostilities in a social media post, and a reminder that the protection of health workers is obligatory under international law.
HananBalkhyحنان بلخي
@HananBalkhy
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The rapid escalation of hostilities in the Middle East is deeply alarming. Our Region is already fragile, shaped by years of conflict, displacement, and underfunded health systems.
Further violence will not only claim lives directly. It will push already strained health systems Show more
3:15 PM · Feb 28, 2026
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Today 12:07 AM
Meeting called to order
Ambassador James Kariuki of the United Kingdom, and Council President for February, calls the meeting to order and as members take their seats around the iconic horseshoe-shaped table.
Feb 28, 2026 11:31 PM
Top UN officials react to strikes
Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO) “I am deeply concerned about the current situation in the Middle East. My heart is with the civilians caught in the crossfire.”
Volker Türk, High Commissioner of Human Rights “As always, in any armed conflict, it is civilians who end up paying the ultimate price.”
Annalena Baerbock, President of the General Assembly “The UN Charter is clear: all Member States must settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered.”
International Atomic Energy Agency “The IAEA is closely monitoring developments in the Middle East, and urges restraint to avoid any nuclear safety risks to people in the region.”
UN Human Rights
@UNHumanRights
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UN Human Rights Chief @volker_turk deplores military strikes across #Iran by Israel & USA, & retaliatory strikes by Iran.
As always, in any armed conflict, it is civilians who end up paying the ultimate price.
https://ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/02/turk-deplores-strikes-against-iran-and-retaliation
Feb 28, 2026 07:31 PM
Security Council emergency meeting: Iran
Today at 4:00 p.m., the Security Council will convene an emergency meeting following attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel.
The meeting - reportedly requested by France, Bahrain and Colombia - will be convened under the agenda item "situation in the Middle East" and chaired by the United Kingdom, which holds the monthly Council Presidency
UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned today’s military escalation in the Middle East, stressing: “The use of force by the United States and Israel against Iran, and the subsequent retaliation by Iran across the region, undermine international peace and security.”
He is calling for an immediate ceasefire and de-escalation.
“Failing to do so risks a wider regional conflict, with grave consequences for civilians and regional stability,” he warned. For reaction so far from across the UN system, see our earlier news update here.
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