Saudi Arabia has welcomed the UN Security Council’s (UNSC) adoption of a Gulf-backed resolution condemning Iranian attacks against neighboring countries.
On Wednesday, the UNSC adopted resolution 2817 (2026), which condemns Iran’s attacks on its regional neighbors and demands a halt to Tehran’s aggressions against Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the UAE and Jordan.
Saudi Arabia Backs UNSC Resolution
In a statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry welcomed the UNSC’s adoption of resolution 2817, which strongly condemns the heinous attacks lunched by Iran against the Gulf countries and Jordan and identifies these acts as a breach of international law and a serious threat to international peace and security.
“Saudi Arabia welcomes the provisions of the resolution, including the condemnation of the attacks on residential areas and the targeting of civilian objects, the resulting civilian casualties, and the damage to civilian buildings, and expresses its solidarity with these countries and their peoples,” the statement said.
Furthermore, the Saudi Foreign Ministry highlighted the international support for the resolution and condemnation of Iran’s flagrant attacks, demanding an immediate and unconditional halt to these aggressions, as well as an end to any provocation or threat against neighboring States, including the use of proxies.
Right to Self-Defense
Saudi Arabia also reiterated its right to safeguard its security and sovereignty in the face of these aggressions. “The Kingdom affirms the provisions of the resolution and retains its full right to take measures that ensure the protection of its security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity and deter aggression, as recognized by Article 51 of the UN Charter,” the Foreign Ministry’s statement said.
In the early hours of Thursday, Saudi Arabia intercepted and destroyed 30 drones, the Spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense, Major General Turki Al-Maliki, said in a series of statements.
Saudi air defenses repelled 22 drones in the Eastern Province; 7 drones heading to Shaybah oilfield in the Empty Quarter; and 1 drone approaching the Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh, according to Al-Maliki.
In retaliation for US-Israeli strikes, Iran targeted Israel and US assets in the region with barrages of missiles and drones that directly violated the sovereignty of several Arab States, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, the UAE and Oman. Iranian drones also hit Cyprus, Azerbaijan and Türkiye.
UNSC Resolution
The UNSC on Wednesday adopted a resolution sponsored by Gulf States and Jordan condemning Iran’s “egregious attacks” against countries in the region. Resolution 2817 was passed by 13 votes in favor, none against, and two abstentions from Russia and China.
Under the resolution, the UNSC condemns “in the strongest terms” Iran’s attacks against Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Jordan and reiterates its strong support for those countries’ sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence.
Furthermore, the resolution condemns any actions or threats by Iran aimed at closing, obstructing, or otherwise interfering with international navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
In light of this, it demands that Iran halt its threats, provocations and actions aimed at interfering with maritime trade, as well as support to proxy groups across the region.
The UNSC adoption of the resolution took place as the war – which began on February 28 following US-Israeli strikes on Iran – approaches its two-week mark, spiraling to around a dozen countries in the Middle East.
Iran’s Reaction
Iranian Ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, decried the adoption of the resolution as a “serious setback to the Council’s credibility and leaves a lasting stain on its record.” He accused the US, which serves as the current Council President, of abusing its position to obstruct efforts aimed at ending the war.
“Let me make it clear – this resolution is a manifest injustice against my country, the main victim of a clear act of aggression,” the Iranian representative said. “We consider it unjust and unlawful, inconsistent with the UN Charter and international law,” he added
Russia, for its part, said that the adopted resolution uses a “biased and one-sided tone” that could lead to the interpretation that Tehran decided to strike targets across the region without provocation.
“The Council’s adoption [of this text] could be interpreted by bad-faith actors, and first and foremost by those who started this war, to continue their acts of aggression against Iran,” Russia’s UN representative, Vasily Nebenzya, warned.
In light of this, Moscow presented a second draft resolution, which it described as an “impartial document aimed at urgently de-escalating the situation.”
It urged all parties to immediately halt their military activities and refrain from further escalation, while condemning all attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure and calling for negotiations.
However, the draft resolution failed to pass, receiving four votes in favor (China, Pakistan, Russia, Somalia), two against (Latvia, US) and nine abstentions (Bahrain, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, France, Greece, Liberia, Panama, UK).
Following the vote, Nebenzya expressed disappointment for rejecting the draft resolution. “We’re deeply disappointed,” he said, suggesting that Council members prioritize short-term political interests and traditional alliances.
