Israel declared UN Secretary-General António Guterres “persona non grata” on Wednesday, barring him from entering the country after accusing him of not condemning Iran’s recent missile attack on Israel with sufficient clarity. The decision follows Guterres’ statements at an emergency UN Security Council meeting, where he called for an end to the escalating violence in the Middle East but did not explicitly single out Iran’s actions.
Guterres condemned the growing conflict, urging an immediate ceasefire and denouncing the “sickening cycle of escalation” between Israel, Iran, and their regional allies. The UN chief also addressed Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza, describing it as the deadliest and most destructive he has witnessed during his tenure. However, Israeli officials were dissatisfied with what they perceived as a lack of a direct and unequivocal condemnation of Iran’s missile strikes, which targeted Israel the day before.
“Anyone who cannot unequivocally condemn Iran’s heinous attack on Israel does not deserve to step foot on Israeli soil,” Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz said in a statement. This follows Guterres’ earlier comments about the regional violence, which had drawn sharp criticism from Israeli authorities for not specifically addressing Iran’s role.
During the UN Security Council session, Guterres responded to the diplomatic row, reiterating his condemnation of Iran’s missile barrage. He emphasized that his earlier remarks were intended to denounce the attack and again called for all sides to work towards ending hostilities.
Iran, for its part, defended its missile attack on Israel as a legitimate act of self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter. In a letter to the Security Council, Iranian officials cited Israeli violations of their sovereignty and argued that their missile strikes were directed solely at Israeli military and security targets. Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon dismissed Iran’s self-defense claims, asserting that Israel was exercising its right to defend its citizens and territory from hostile actions by Iran and its regional proxies.
In summary, Israel’s decision to declare Guterres “persona non grata” escalates tensions further as both Israel and Iran continue their military exchanges. The UN chief’s call for an end to violence has done little to ease diplomatic friction, as Israel demands a stronger stance against Iran’s aggression. Iran, meanwhile, maintains that its attacks are a justified response to Israeli provocations, deepening the crisis.
