Tehran carried out its threat of retaliation against Israel by launching a massive and unprecedented attack against its regional enemy on Saturday evening. Several analysts consider a response from Israel almost inevitable. Speaking at the Security Council, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for “maximum restraint” from both states, in order to avoid “major military confrontations on multiple fronts in the Middle East.”
Information to remember
⇒ At the UN, Israel and Iran accuse each other
⇒ Israel says it defended itself in “coalition” with its allies
⇒ An emergency meeting of EU foreign ministers on Tuesday
France carried out “interceptions” at the request of Jordan, assures Macron
France carried out “interceptions” of Iranian missiles and drones targeting Israel during the night from Saturday to Sunday at the request of Jordan, confirmed this Monday morning Emmanuel Macron who wants to “do everything to avoid conflagration” in the Middle -East.
“We have an air base in Jordan […] Jordanian airspace was violated by these shots. We took off our planes and we intercepted what we had to intercept,” declared the French president on BFMTV-RMC channels. By deciding to “strike Israel” from its soil, Iran caused “a profound rupture” and “what has opened is very dangerous in terms of reaction,” he said. “We will do everything to avoid conflagration. […] and therefore try to convince Israel that we should not respond by escalating, but rather isolate Iran, succeed in convincing the countries of the region that Iran is a danger, increase sanctions, increase pressure on nuclear activities and then find a path of peace in the region,” he said.
At the UN, Israel and Iran accuse each other
We must “impose all possible sanctions against Iran, before it is too late”. This Sunday, April 14, during an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council convened at his initiative, the Israeli ambassador, Gilad Erdan, urged its members to “act” in order to prevent a conflagration in Middle East. “The mask has fallen. Iran, the world’s leading supporter of terrorism, has exposed its true face as a destabilizer of the region and the world,” he declared in particular, referring to the “snapback” mechanism, which allows members of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal to reimpose international sanctions against Tehran, then lifted in exchange for Iran’s commitment not to carry out nuclear activities for military purposes.
“It is time for the Security Council to assume its responsibilities and face the real threat to international peace and security,” accused the Iranian ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, before to call on member states to “take urgent punitive measures to force this regime to stop the genocide against the population of Gaza.” Concerning the attack, the latter believes that “the Security Council failed in its duty”, by not condemning the April 1 strike against the consulate in Damascus. “Under these conditions, the Islamic Republic of Iran had no other choice than to exercise its right to self-defense,” he added, assuring that Tehran did not want an escalation but would respond to “any threat or aggression”.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, for his part, sought to delay. “Neither the region nor the world can afford more war,” he insisted, calling for “maximum restraint” from the two States, in order to avoid “major military confrontations on multiple fronts in the Middle East.” East”.
Against the attack, “a coalition of international allies”
The Israeli army congratulated itself on Sunday on having been able to count on “a defensive coalition of international allies” led by the United States, with Great Britain, France and other countries. “Iran’s unprecedented attack was countered by an unprecedented defense. It was the first time such a coalition had worked together against the threat from Iran and its proxies in the Middle East,” he said. during a press conference the spokesperson for the Israeli army, Daniel Hagari.
If Joe Biden confirmed the information, reaffirming his “unwavering” support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the American president nevertheless insisted on the fact that he did not want an “extended war” with Iran. “The president (Joe Biden) has been clear: we do not want escalation,” White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on Sunday.
For his part, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also called for “calm” in the region to “defuse” the situation, although his military aircraft shot down “several” Iranian drones during the attack on Israel.
Darmanin calls for increased security in front of Jewish places of worship and schools
French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin on Sunday asked prefects to strengthen security in front of Jewish places of worship as well as in front of religious schools, the day after the attack carried out by Iran against Israel and in anticipation of holidays of Pessah, the Jewish Passover.
“The security forces (police and gendarmerie, editor’s note) will naturally not be able to carry out these missions alone,” he wrote in a telegram. “Also, it is up to you to requisition Sentinelle’s soldiers for this purpose.”
For his part, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Stéphane Séjourné, announced that he would summon the Iranian ambassador to France on Monday to “send a message of firmness”. “We must not reverse the responsibilities. It was the Iranians who attacked Israel. […] Since 1979, Iran has put hatred against Israel at the heart of its diplomacy,” he said.
An emergency meeting of EU foreign ministers on Tuesday
The head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell convened an emergency meeting of EU foreign ministers on Tuesday by videoconference, following the attack carried out by Iran against Israel, he announced this Sunday. “Our goal is to contribute to de-escalation and security in the region,” he said on the social network X.
Josep Borrell also declared on Iran not to engage in a “new escalation”.
“In this extremely tense regional situation, a new escalation cannot be in anyone’s interest. We call on all parties to show the greatest restraint,” also underlined the Spanish official, in a statement released on behalf of the 27 EU countries.
Reopening of schools on Monday in Israel
The Israeli army announced the reopening on Monday, in most of the country, of schools which had been closed for security reasons on Saturday in the face of threats from Iran.
The Islamic Republic carried out an unprecedented drone and missile attack on Israel overnight from Saturday to Sunday, which claimed to have “foiled” the operation with the help of allied countries. After assessing the situation, “it was decided to resume educational activities throughout the country” from Monday, subject however to “restrictions” in the border area with Lebanon and in localities close to the Gaza Strip, said indicated on X the spokesperson for the army, Daniel Hagari.