Israel calls on UN chief to resign following 'shocking' speech
FOX News' Eric Shawn provides details on the "stunning" news after some accused U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres of justifying Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
A U.S.-sponsored draft resolution on the Israel-Hamas war that was expected to be voted on at the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday includes no mention of Iran, the main patron of the Hamas and Hezbollah terror organizations.
The original draft resolution had called on Iran to stop funding terror groups, according to a Saturday report from Reuters. The first draft resolution, since obtained by Fox News Digital, stated that "Iran must cease the export of all arms and related matériel to armed militias and terrorist groups threatening peace and security across the region, including Hamas ..."
The latest version – which was expected to be voted on Tuesday, but negotiations are ongoing – features no mention of Iran, however. Fox News Digital obtained a copy of the latest draft resolution that "Urges Member States to intensify their efforts to suppress the financing of terrorism, including by restricting financing of Hamas through applicable national-level authorities, in accordance with international law and consistent with Resolution 2482 (2019)."
PENTAGON OFFICIALS SAY ATTACKS ON US TROOPS HAVE 'IRANIAN FINGERPRINTS ALL OVER'
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, center, speaks with U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres and U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield before a Security Council meeting at United Nations headquarters in New York City on Oct. 24, 2023. (Timothy A. Clary / AFP via Getty Images)
In a statement to Fox News Digital, a spokesperson for the U.S. mission to the U.N. blamed Russia for Iran's omission from the latest draft resolution.
"The Biden Administration has been unequivocal in its condemnation of Iran’s longtime support of terrorist groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah – and we will never hesitate to hold Iran accountable for its destabilizing activities," the spokesperson wrote. "Regarding the U.N. resolution, Russia's mission in New York insisted that references to Iran be removed. I suggest reaching out to the Russians to ask why they made those demands. That said, the Resolution has very strong language that applies directly to Iran, including calls to suppress financing of Hamas (Op 14), to prevent the export of arms and [matériel] to Hamas (Op 16), and language on Iran-backed Hizballah ceasing its cross border attacks (Op 15)."
Portraits of late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and current Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei are displayed at the entrance to Yaroun, south Lebanon, on Aug. 13, 2022. (AP Photo / Mohammed Zaatari)
The paragraphs that the U.S. spokesperson says refer directly to Iran in the latest draft resolution "Calls on all States and international organizations to intensify urgent, concrete steps to support efforts by the United Nations and regional States to prevent the violence in Gaza from escalating, spilling over or expanding to other areas in the region, and calls on all those with influence to work towards this objective, including by demanding the immediate cessation by Hezbollah and other armed-groups of all attacks which constitute clear violations of Resolution 1701 (2006) and relevant Security Council resolutions …"
Whereas operating paragraph 16 states, "Calls on all States to take practical steps to prevent the export of arms and matériel to armed militias and terrorist groups operating in Gaza, including Hamas …"
Fox News Digital inspected both drafts and confirmed that any mention of Iran had been removed from the latest draft of the resolution.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken addresses the U.N. Security Council in New York City on Oct. 24, 2023. (UNTV / Reuters)
While there was no mention of Iran in the U.S. draft resolution, Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Iran during his speech to the Security Council, "The United States does not seek conflict with Iran. We do not want this war to widen. But if Iran or its proxies attack U.S. personnel anywhere, make no mistake, we will defend our people. We will defend our security swiftly and decisively."
Blinken continued, "To all the members of this council: If you, like the United States, wants to prevent this conflict from spreading, tell Iran, tell its proxies – in public, in private, through every means – do not open another front against [Israel] in this conflict. Do not attack Israel's partners. And we urge members to go a step further. Make clear that if Iran or its proxies widen this conflict and put more civilians at risk, you will hold them accountable. Act as if the security and stability of the entire region and beyond is on the line because it is."
Hamas militants are seen during a military show in Gaza City on July 20, 2017. (Chris McGrath / Getty Images)
Fox News Digital reached out to the Russian spokesperson to its U.N. mission to ask why they insisted that Iran be taken out of the draft resolution.
According to sources, Russia has introduced its own U.N. draft Security Council resolution, which calls for a humanitarian cease-fire. Neither draft resolution was voted on Tuesday, and it's uncertain when the U.N. Security Council will next meet to consider the dueling texts.
Earlier this month, Hamas terrorists launched thousands of missiles at Israel and invaded towns along the Gaza border, killing at least 1,400 people and wounding thousands more. The actions from the Iran-backed group resulted in Israel declaring war against the terror group.
Just before the Hamas attack, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei wrote on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, that "the usurper regime is coming to an end," in reference to Israel.
"Today, the Palestinian youth and the anti-oppression, anti-occupation movement in Palestine is more energetic, more alive, and more prepared than ever during the past 70 or 80 years," he wrote. "God willing, the movement will achieve its goals."
An Israeli army self-propelled gun opens fire near the border with Gaza in southern Israel on Oct. 11, 2023. (Menahem Kahana / AFP via Getty Images)
On Monday, senior Pentagon officials said they expect to see a "significant escalation" of attacks against U.S. troops in the Middle East, adding that the attacks have "Iranian fingerprints all over" them.
A senior U.S. defense official and a senior U.S. military official held a background briefing on Monday afternoon, and both officials suggested that attacks will likely increase on U.S. troops over the coming days.
The defense official reiterated that Iran is funding, equipping, guiding and directing partners and proxies across the Middle East, including Lebanese Hezbollah militia groups in Iran, Syria and Yemen.
Iranian protesters burn U.S. and Israeli flags in Tehran on Oct. 20, 2023. (Morteza Nikoubazl / NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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"I think it’s fair to say when you see this uptick in activity in attacks by many of these groups, there’s Iranian fingerprints all over it," the defense official said.
Fox News' Peter Aitken and Greg Wehner contributed to this report.