Antony Blinken at UN: ‘If Iran or proxies attack US, make no mistake we will’

US secretary of state Antony Blinken warned that Iran amid Israel war with Hamas that if Tehran or its proxies “attack us, make no mistake we will” as UN Security Council held a quarterly open debate on the Middle East in New York.

“The United States does not seek conflict with Iran. We do not want this war to widen. But if Iran or its proxies attack US personnel anywhere, make no mistake. We will defend our people — we will defend our security — swiftly and decisively,” Antony Blinken told a UN security council session.

The US secretary of state also said that he will work with China’s top diplomat Wang Yi to prevent the conflict in the Middle East from spreading when they meet later this week. Wang Yi is set to arrive in Washington on Thursday.

What UN chief said on Israel-Hamas war?

UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres alleged violations of international law as Israel targeted Gaza. “I am deeply concerned about the clear violations of international humanitarian law that we are witnessing in Gaza. Let me be clear: No party to an armed conflict is above international humanitarian law,” he said.

What Turkey’s president said at the UN session?

Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan accused the United Nations security council of deepening the crisis in Gaza by bowing to the “Israeli regime”.

“The international community is not rising to the challenge in the face of the Israeli regime’s unlawful and unrestrained attacks against civilians,” Erdogan said, adding, “We observe that the United Nations Security Council has deepened the crisis with its one-sided attitude, instead of stopping the bloodshed, ensuring a ceasefire as soon as possible, and taking steps to prevent civilian casualties.”