NEW YORK CITY: As his country assumed the rotating presidency of the Security Council for April, Bahrain’s envoy to the UN, Jamal Fares Alrowaiei, warned that continuing Iranian attacks against Gulf states risk setting a dangerous global precedent.
Speaking on Wednesday as he outlined Manama’s priorities during its month-long stint, Alrowaiei said the recent Iranian aggression against Bahrain and other countries, which started shortly after the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran began on Feb. 28, should not be viewed as a purely regional issue.
“We consider this not a national or regional matter but an international matter of concern,” he said, warning that the potential security and economic consequences extend far beyond the Middle East.
“Iran’s irresponsible behavior, if left unaddressed, can become a norm that we can see replicated in other regions in the world — and this is something nobody wants to see happen.”
The attacks against Bahrain, its fellow Gulf Cooperation Council members and Jordan constitute a “flagrant violation” of international law and the UN Charter, Alrowaiei said.
He highlighted repeated breaches of Security Council Resolution 2817, a measure presented by Bahrain last month on behalf of the GCC states and Jordan that condemned the Iranian attacks on states in the region and shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. It garnered broad international backing from more than 130 UN member states.
Bahrain has formally raised the issue in several communications to the UN secretary-general, and stressed its right to defend itself under Article 51 of the UN Charter.
“We continue to reserve the right of self-defense,” Alrowaiei said.
Alrowaiei dismissed as baseless the allegations by Tehran that countries in the region had launched attacks against it. He said Gulf states have consistently sought to build “bridges of peace and cooperation” with Iran but were instead met with “surprising” and “premeditated” aggression.
“All the excuses used to justify Iran’s attacks are invalid,” he said. “They are trying to find excuses only in the minds of Iran to attack our region.”
He added that the broad international backing for Resolution 2817 underscored what he described as the “false nature” of Tehran’s claims.
Alrowaiei outlined four overarching priorities for Bahrain’s presidency of the Security Council this month: consolidating peace and stability, addressing traditional and emerging security threats, ensuring inclusion, and advancing multilateralism.
“These priorities will shape our program of work in a cross-cutting manner,” he said.
Beyond the situation with Iran, he also signaled that Bahrain will be paying close attention to broader developments in Middle East, including the Palestinian issue. The council will monitor the situation in the West Bank, he said, and support governance and peace efforts in Gaza.
Alrowaiei also stressed the importance of safeguarding Lebanon and preventing it from being drawn into the wider regional conflict.
“It is important that we support Lebanon’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity,” he said, as he called for backing for the Lebanese government in its efforts to maintain national stability.
Unchecked escalation of violence risks normalizing cross-border attacks, he warned.
“The problem is Iranian; it needs Iran to address it — especially when the region is striving for stability, development and peace,” Alrowaiei said.
