US Veto of UN Resolution Russian Proposal for Middle East Ceasefire

JAKARTA - The United States vetoed a UN Security Council resolution drafted by Russia calling for a ceasefire in the Middle East and condemning attacks on civilians.

Latvia also opposed the resolution. Nine others abstained, while four member states supported it.

As reported by ANTARA from Sputnik, Thursday, March 12, the document submitted by Russia asks "all parties" to immediately stop hostilities "in the Middle East and beyond." The draft also condemns all attacks on civilians and calls on all those involved in the escalation to return to diplomacy. Although it does not mention any country.

In addition, the document also notes "the importance of ensuring the security of all countries in the Middle East and surrounding regions."

In its opening statement, the UN Security Council expressed sorrow over the deaths in the conflict and reiterated the prohibition on the use of force against the territorial integrity of a country.

Earlier, the UN Security Council on the same day Wednesday had adopted a resolution drafted by Bahrain containing demands that Iran end attacks on Gulf countries.

However, the resolution does not mention the military attacks from the United States and Israel against the Islamic Republic, according to a report by RIA Novosti correspondent.

Thirteen countries voted in favor of the document, while Russia and China abstained.

The resolution condemned Iran's attacks on Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan, and demanded that the attacks be stopped immediately.

However, the resolution also did not mention US and Israeli aggression, nor did it even call on the two countries to stop attacking Iran.