As diplomatic efforts intensify to douse the raging flames of the Iran-Israel conflict, Iran’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abbas Araghchi, is expected to deliver a direct address to the United Nations Human Rights Council on Friday. The address is scheduled to take place in Geneva, Switzerland, where high-level diplomatic engagements are also ongoing between Iran and top European officials.
Pascal Sim, spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Council, confirmed during a press briefing that Araghchi would make his intervention in person at the start of the council’s afternoon session, scheduled for 1300 GMT. Following his remarks, the council is expected to return to its standard agenda.
The minister’s appearance at the UN comes against the backdrop of a full-blown regional crisis, with Israel and Iran trading accusations and missiles. Araghchi is also holding closed-door talks with his counterparts from France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the European Union. These meetings are aimed at exploring diplomatic pathways out of the escalating military confrontation and revisiting stalled discussions around Iran’s nuclear programme.
Meanwhile, Israel is also preparing to make its voice heard at the global stage. Alessandra Vellucci, spokeswoman for the UN Office in Geneva, disclosed that Israel’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Daniel Meron, is slated to address the media at 1230 GMT—just 30 minutes before Araghchi’s address. Meron’s press briefing is expected to deliver Israel’s position on the ongoing conflict, particularly in light of Iran’s recent military maneuvers and nuclear ambitions.
The timing of both statements is significant, coming just as world powers scramble to prevent the conflict from spiralling into a full-scale regional war. Observers say the presence of both Iranian and Israeli representatives in Geneva, albeit in separate venues, underscores the international community’s urgent need for clear communication and possible avenues for de-escalation.
Geneva, a traditional hub for global diplomacy, is once again in the spotlight as tensions in the Middle East rise sharply. With hundreds already killed in recent strikes and the spectre of more confrontations looming large, the global community awaits the outcome of these crucial diplomatic engagements.
