At a tense United Nations (UN) Security Council meeting on Tuesday, Iran and Israel offered sharply contrasting views on the role of diplomacy in resolving disputes over Iran’s nuclear programme, the issue at the heart of a recent 13-day violent conflict between the two nations.
Iran reaffirmed its commitment to diplomatic solutions, insisting that dialogue remains the only viable path to resolving differences, both with Israel and the broader international community, over its nuclear ambitions.
“Iran never initiated this war,” said Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran’s Ambassador to the UN. “Once the aggressors stopped their attacks, Iran halted its lawful military response as well.”
Saeid emphasized that diplomacy “could and must” resolve disputes and reiterated Iran’s willingness to return to talks aimed at addressing nuclear and sanctions-related issues. He urged the Security Council to condemn the attacks by Israel and the United States on Iranian nuclear facilities, which he noted are under the protection of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
He also affirmed Iran’s adherence to Security Council Resolution 2231 and the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), adding that Iran’s recent actions remained within the framework of those agreements.
In sharp contrast, Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon dismissed diplomacy as a failed strategy, claiming Iran had exploited negotiations for years to secretly advance its nuclear weapons programme.
“Diplomacy has been exhausted,” Danon said. “Every opportunity, every channel, every deadline has been tried — and failed. The regime in Tehran never intended to comply.”
Danon described Israel’s military strikes as necessary to neutralize a “double existential threat” from Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities. He said Israel achieved full air superiority and eliminated key Iranian military targets in coordination with the United States.
“There is still time to take meaningful and decisive action to ensure that the threat of a nuclear Iran does not return stronger than before,” he added.
The United States took a middle ground, calling on Iran to return to negotiations and renounce its nuclear ambitions. Acting U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Dorothea Shea, warned that Iran’s escalating nuclear activities lacked “any credible civilian justification.”
British Ambassador Barbara Woodward welcomed the ceasefire brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump but cautioned that the situation remained fragile. “Now is the time for a return to diplomacy,” she said, urging Iran to re-engage in talks without delay.
Echoing these concerns, the European Union reiterated that a sustainable resolution can only come through negotiations — not through military force.
“Ensuring that Iran does not acquire or develop a nuclear weapon remains a key security priority for the EU,” said EU Ambassador Stavros Lambrinidis.
UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, also emphasized the importance of diplomacy, saying the ceasefire announced by President Trump offered “an opportunity to avoid a catastrophic escalation and achieve a peaceful resolution to the Iran nuclear issue.”
The JCPOA, originally negotiated between Iran, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, and the EU, seeks to ensure Iran’s nuclear programme remains peaceful in exchange for sanctions relief. However, the goals of the deal — and the resolution that endorsed it — remain unmet.
As the fragile ceasefire holds, the international community faces a crucial moment: either revive diplomatic engagement or risk a deeper and more dangerous conflict.
