Middle East crisis: India backs UNSC resolution condemning Iranian strikes on Gulf nations

NEW DELHI: India, along with nearly 140 member states, backed on Thursday a United Nations Security Council resolution condemning Iran’s attacks on Middle Eastern nations as strikes continue after the US and Israel's joint operation in Tehran. The 15-member council passed Resolution 2817 (2026) with 13 votes in favour, while China and Russia abstained. The resolution condemned Iran’s strikes against Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan. It also criticised attacks on “residential areas and civilian objects” and demanded that they stop immediately.The text further asked Tehran to halt its “threats, provocations and actions aimed at interfering with maritime trade,” as well as its support for proxy groups.Iran’s representative rejected the adopted resolution, calling it a “manifest injustice against my country” and a “serious setback to the Council’s credibility.”Bahrain’s representative welcomed the move, saying, “The message is clear,” and that the “international community is resolute in rejecting these Iranian unjust, hostile acts.”Israel welcomed the condemnation and said, “Targeting civilians is wrong, targeting cities is wrong, and Iran must stop.”China, which abstained, said the resolution “does not fully reflect the root cause and overall picture of the conflict in a balanced manner.” After the vote, the council also rejected a separate draft resolution proposed by Russia that called for de-escalation without naming any country. It received only four votes in favour.