Rising animosity and missing trust in the Arabian Peninsula

 
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Sunday called upon the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to recognize Israel and the United States as the initiators of the "aggression" against Iran, reports CGTN. 

In a letter addressed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and UNSC President Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Araghchi urged the Council to fulfill its responsibility in maintaining international peace and security, according to the official IRNA news agency.
He accused Israel of deliberately targeting residential buildings, civilians and civilian infrastructure, describing the attacks as a "flagrant breach" of the UN Charter and a "blatant violation" of international law.

Araghchi said Israel and the United States had also targeted Iran's nuclear facilities – safeguarded by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) – in "grave violation of the UN Charter, the Non-Proliferation Treaty, as well as the IAEA's instruments and resolutions."

The Iranian foreign minister emphasized that the UNSC should hold the "aggressors" accountable and act to prevent the recurrence of such "crimes."

On June 13, Israel launched major airstrikes on several areas in Iran, including nuclear and military sites, killing senior commanders, nuclear scientists and numerous civilians. Iran responded with multiple waves of missile and drone attacks on Israel.

On June 22, U.S. forces bombed three Iranian nuclear facilities. In retaliation, Iran struck the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.

After 12 days of fighting, a ceasefire between Iran and Israel was reached on Tuesday. The regime in Tehran has proven in the past that it can, in coordination with countries like China, continue to survive despite these sanctions.

A future war, in light of the preparations being made in Iran for it, could be more difficult than the previous one and entangle Israel in a war of attrition with no end in sight. If Israel’s goal is to ensure that Iran cannot develop a bomb, an agreement is probably the only way to ensure this, even at the cost of strengthening the regime.

Netanyahu said Israel is “doing great work keeping that away,” crediting cooperation with Washington for bolstering regional defense.
He said Israel and the United States are co-developing “the most advanced offensive weapons on the planet,” and claimed Israeli intelligence had prevented attacks by ISIS, including plots against US targets.

Turning to Gaza, he said Israel is “close to the end of the war, but not there yet,” adding that “we smashed the Iranian axis with most of their proxies.”

Netanyahu said Israel’s campaign would only conclude once Hamas rule in Gaza ends and the remaining hostages are freed. Rising animosity and missing trust have always obstructed peace in the Arab world.