logo
Iran-Israel war: SA calling on UN to broker peaceful resolution

Iran-Israel war: SA calling on UN to broker peaceful resolution

Eyewitness News7 hours ago

JOHANNESBURG - The South African government has expressed concern over the United States (US) military involvement in the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.
President Cyril Ramaphosa says he had hoped the US, particularly under President Donald Trump, would use its influence to promote dialogue between the warring nations.
Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says South Africa is now calling on the United Nations to take the lead in brokering a peaceful resolution.
ALSO READ: Trump says US strikes 'obliterated' Iran nuclear sites
'It was South Africa's sincerest hope that President Donald Trump will use his influence and that of the US government to prevail on the parties to pursue a dialogue path in resolving their issues of dispute.
'South Africa calls on the United States, Israel, and Iran to give the UN [United Nations] the opportunity and space to lead on a peaceful resolution of matters of dispute, including the inspection and verification of Iran's status of uranium enrichment, as well as its broader nuclear capacity.'

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

US attacks on Iran put Middle East on knife edge
US attacks on Iran put Middle East on knife edge

IOL News

time5 hours ago

  • IOL News

US attacks on Iran put Middle East on knife edge

Protesters in support of Iran and Palestinians in Gaza hold flags and placards during a demonstration against the actions of Israel and the US in Sydney, Australia. Similar protests were held in India, South Korea, Pakistan among other countries on Sunday. Image: AFP THE US's surprise strikes on Iran at the weekend threaten to deepen the conflict in the Middle East after Israel also launched its own bombing campaign against Iran, with Tehran vowing to retaliate against US involvement. In response to the US attack, Iran's armed forces said they targeted multiple sites in Israel including Ben Gurion airport, the country's main international gateway near Tel Aviv. Israeli rescuers said at least 23 people were wounded. Iran's Huthi allies in Yemen repeated their threat on Sunday to resume attacks in the Red Sea if Washington joined the war, saying they were ready to target US ships and military warships. This was after President Donald Trump claimed total success for the operation in an address to the nation just hours after the attack, and Vice President JD Vance said: "We know that we set the Iranian nuclear program back substantially last night, whether it's years or beyond," he told ABC. "We're not at war with Iran -- we're at war with Iran's nuclear program," he added. "The president took decisive action to destroy that program." The UN's International Atomic Energy Agency said it had not detected any increase in radiation levels at the nuclear sites and Tehran said there were no signs of contamination. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the US strikes, saying Trump's decision to "target Iran's nuclear facilities with the awesome and righteous might of the United States will change history." The Israeli military was also checking the results of the US raid on the deeply buried nuclear facility in Fordo, with a spokesperson saying it was "too soon" to know if Iran had removed enriched uranium from the site. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Trump "seeks peace, and Iran should take that path. "This mission was not, and has not been, about regime change." "We devastated the Iranian nuclear program," Hegseth told a Pentagon press briefing, adding that the operation "did not target Iranian troops or the Iranian people." People gathered in the centre of Tehran to protest against US and Israeli attacks, waving flags and chanting slogans, state TV showed. Israel said it had launched fresh strikes on western Iran and in Qom, south of Tehran. Iran's official IRNA news agency reported four Revolutionary Guard members were killed in strikes on a military base in the city's north. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the US attacks as "outrageous" and said his country had a right to defend its sovereignty. "The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences," he posted on social media, calling the attacks "lawless and criminal" behaviour. Araghchi later said the United States and Israel crossed "a very big red line" with the attacks, and said he would head to Moscow later Sunday for talks with President Vladimir Putin. The United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman, which had been mediating Iran-US nuclear talks, criticised the US move and urged de-escalation. The European Union called on all sides "to step back," while stressing Iran must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called on Iran to "return to the negotiating table and reach a diplomatic solution to end this crisis". "Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and the US has taken action to alleviate that threat," Starmer said on X, adding that "stability in the region is a priority". French President Emmanuel Macron called a meeting of the country's defence council on Sunday, with his office saying he had spoken with the leaders of Saudi Arabia and Oman. France urged "all parties to exercise restraint to avoid any escalation that could lead to an extension of the conflict", Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot posted on X. Russia "strongly condemned" the bombings, calling them "irresponsible" and a "gross violation of international law". "A dangerous escalation has begun, fraught with further undermining of regional and global security," the Russian foreign ministry added. China's foreign ministry also condemned the US strikes, warning that they "escalate tensions in the Middle East". "China calls on all parties to the conflict, especially Israel, to cease fire as soon as possible," the ministry said. President Cyril Ramaphosa called on the US, Israel, and Iran to give the United Nations the opportunity and space to lead on the peaceful resolution of the matters of dispute, including the inspection and verification of Iran's status of uranium enrichment, as well as its broader nuclear capacity. The UN was set to meet over the latest attacks on Sunday. THE MERCURY

UN's Syria envoy outraged by Damascus church attack
UN's Syria envoy outraged by Damascus church attack

IOL News

time6 hours ago

  • IOL News

UN's Syria envoy outraged by Damascus church attack

People and rescuers inspect the damage at the site of a reported suicide attack at the Saint Elias church in Damascus' Dwelaa area The United Nations special envoy for Syria denounced Sunday's attack on a church in Damascus that killed at least 20 people as a "heinous crime". Syria's interior ministry said a member of the Islamic State jihadist group was behind the attack, in which dozens of people were wounded. UN envoy Geir Pedersen "condemns in the strongest possible terms the terrorist attack at St. Elias Church... which killed and injured civilians who were attending mass", said a statement from his office. "He expresses his outrage at this heinous crime." Pedersen noted that the Syrian interim authorities had attributed the attack to IS, and "calls for a full investigation and action by the authorities," the statement added. Pedersen "calls on all to unite in rejecting terrorism, extremism, incitement and the targeting of any community in Syria". The Norwegian diplomat sent his deepest condolences to the families of the victims and hoped for the recovery of those injured, the statement said. Pedersen, 69, has been the special envoy for Syria since 2018.

Duduzile mocks Floyd Shivambu with TikTok after MP snub?
Duduzile mocks Floyd Shivambu with TikTok after MP snub?

The South African

time6 hours ago

  • The South African

Duduzile mocks Floyd Shivambu with TikTok after MP snub?

Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla has thrown more shade at Floyd Shivambu amid news that he has been shunned from a position as an MK Party member of parliament (MP). This comes just days after the former secretary-general hosted a press conference in which he accused her of 'taking drugs'. Floyd also criticised his allegience to former political parties, the EFF – which he labelled a 'cult', and the ANC, which he claimed was run by 'scoundrels'. Earlier this month, Floyd Shivambu was demoted as secretary-general after the MK Party condemned his visit to Prophet Shepard Bushiri, a fugitive. At the time, Floyd stated that he would remain a party member and would now be redeployed as an MP. However, the MK Party seemingly halted his plans after announcing a list of incoming MPs that excluded him. The new members will be sworn into parliament this week. Floyd has not directly responded to the news. However, he has continued to promote news of a new political party he hopes to establish. On his X account, the outspoken politician retweeted a post that compared him to MK Party president, Jacob Zuma. It read: 'When Zuma started his own political party, he faced the same insults and ridicule that Floyd Shivambu is enduring today…We've seen this movie before… and in less than five months, we came out with 14% of the vote.' Meanwhile, Jacob Zuma's daughter Duduzile has seemingly responded to Floyd Shivambu's plans with a shady social media post. On her Instagram Story, the MK Party MP reposted an old TikTok video in which she lip-synced the words to the song 'Too Little, Too Late' by US artist Jojo. @duduzumasambudla 'It's Just Too Little Too Late …' #BathroomConcerts ♬ original sound – jimmy ryan A day after Floyd's press conference, Duduzile also clapped back with a suggestive post. On her IG Story, she posted a clip of her laughing alongside EFF leader, Julius Malema. 'It's politics after all', she captioned the clip. Image via Instagram: @duduzilezuma_sambudla Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store