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United Nations Security Council (UNSC)
Organisation

United Nations Security Council (UNSC)

UN's primary peace and security body; paralysed by US veto over Iran and Russian veto over Ukraine.

Last refreshed: 24 April 2026 · Appears in 2 active topics

Key Question

Can the world's peace body act when one of its own vetoes is at war?

Timeline for United Nations Security Council (UNSC)

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Follow Iran Conflict 2026 →Follow Russia-Ukraine War 2026 →
Common Questions
What did the UN Security Council do about the Iran war?
The Council adopted Resolution 2817 condemning Iran's Gulf attacks with 135 co-sponsors, passing 13-0-2. Russia's Ceasefire resolution failed 4-2-9. No resolution addressed the US-Israeli strikes.Source: event
What is UN Resolution 2817?
A resolution condemning Iran's attacks on Gulf States, sponsored by Bahrain on behalf of the GCC and Jordan. It passed 13-0-2 with Russia and China abstaining. It had 135 co-sponsors, the most in UN history.Source: event
Can the UN stop the Iran war?
No. The US holds a permanent veto on the Security Council, making it constitutionally impossible for the body to censure a permanent member's own military operations.
Did the UN condemn the US strikes on Iran?
Secretary-General Guterres condemned the US-Israeli strikes as violations of international law and the UN Charter. The Security Council could not pass a binding resolution because of the US veto.Source: event
How many countries are on the UN Security Council?
15 members: 5 permanent (US, UK, France, Russia, China) with veto power, and 10 non-permanent elected for two-year terms.
Did Russia veto the Iran resolution?
No. Russia abstained on Resolution 2817 rather than vetoing. Its own Ceasefire resolution failed 4-2-9, with the US and Latvia opposing and nine abstentions.Source: event

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Source Material
UN Security Council — ReutersUN Security Council — BBC CoverageReuters: UN Security Council coverageUN Security Council: How it worksUN Security Council — Official SiteUnited Nations Security Council