Security Council

Tensions soar as Israel and Iran engage in a heated exchange of accusations during an emergency session of the UN Security Council convened in the aftermath of Tehran's barrage of rockets and drones targeting Israel over the weekend.

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned the international community Sunday against deeper descent into conflict, addressing the Security Council during a meeting over Iran's weekend attack on Israel.

"Neither the region nor the world can afford more war," Guterres said.

"The Middle East is on the brink," he told the Security Council.

Israel and Iran accused one another Sunday at the United Nations of being the main threat to peace in the Middle East, each calling on the Security Council to impose sanctions on their sworn enemy.

Following Iran's drone attack on Israel, Bulgaria's government has reassured its citizens that there is currently no immediate threat to national security. The government's press service issued a statement affirming this stance.

"The Islamic world must show unity to end Israel's attacks on Palestine as soon as possible," President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan urged in a phone call with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday.

UN Security Council diplomats were shaken in their chairs, planes got briefly grounded, and furniture rattled across New York Friday when an earthquake jolted the city that never sleeps.

No one was hurt, though, and New York's iconic skyline remained intact.

"I AM FINE," reported the Empire State Building on its X account.

Türkiye's top security council has lauded recent strategic cooperation efforts with Iraq in combating terrorism, affirming the necessity of continuing joint efforts in various fields for security in the region.

The National Security Council (MGK), chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, issued a six-article declaration following a meeting lasting around 2.5 hours late on April 4.

The Palestinian delegation to the United Nations is pushing for a vote to be recognized as a full member state next month, Ambassador Riyad Mansour has said, a move opposed by the United States.

"We are seeking admission. That is our natural and legal right," Mansour said, adding that he was pushing for an April 18 vote at the Security Council.

Russia on Thursday blocked the renewal of a panel of U.N. experts monitoring international sanctions on North Korea, weeks after the body said it was investigating reports of arms transfers between Moscow and Pyongyang.

Tensions between the United States and Israel have escalated following the UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Israel responded by canceling a delegation visit to Washington after the US abstained from voting yesterday. Meanwhile, fighting between the Israeli army and Hamas fighters in the Gaza Strip continued unabated.