By Enyichukwu Enemanna
South African authorities have expressed deep concern at the United States’ entry into the ongoing war between Israel and Iran, calling for immediate resolution.
The comments by the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, come after Washington joined Israel’s bombing campaign of Iranian nuclear sites in the early hours of Sunday.
Ramaphosa urged the US, Israel and Iran to give the United Nations “the opportunity and space” to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Heritage Times HT reported the bombing of three Iranian nuclear sites on Sunday by the United States, an attack that has attracted diverse reactions from world leaders.
Some have condemned the strikes, while others expressed fears of a wider conflict, while noting the threat posed by Tehran’s nuclear programme.
On Sunday, the UN Security Council held an exceptional emergency meeting called for by Iran, to discuss the US strikes.
UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, said he was “gravely alarmed” by Washington’s use of force.
“Two days ago, in this very chamber, I made a direct appeal. Give peace a chance. That call was not heeded,” he said.
He described the US bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities as a “perilous turn in a region that is already reeling”.
“From the outset of the crisis, I have repeatedly condemned any military escalation in the Middle East,” Guterres said.
While Iran said it would continue to defend itself by all means against US and Israeli military aggression, the UN chief said the region’s people “cannot endure another cycle of destruction”.
Guterres warned against going down the “rat hole of retaliation after retaliation”, saying diplomacy must prevail.
