A senior American diplomat sparked confusion and controversy at a United Nations Security Council meeting on Friday after mistakenly blaming Israel for "chaos, terror and suffering" in the Middle East before quickly correcting herself.
Dorothy Shea, the US Chargé d’Affaires ad interim to the UN, made the apparent slip-up during a speech condemning Iran’s regional actions.
‘Israel’s government has...’
"Israel's government has also spread chaos, terror and suffering throughout the region," Shea said, before pausing mid-sentence and correcting herself.
"Iran's government has also spread chaos, terror and suffering throughout the region," she then clarified, continuing her remarks.
The moment, which was caught on video, has since gone viral, with many on social media speculating whether the slip was a genuine mistake or a revealing moment of diplomatic confusion.
Reaffirming support for Israel
Despite the awkward pause, Shea reiterated Washington’s firm backing for Israel. "While the United States was not involved in Israel's strikes, let there be no doubt that the United States continues to stand with Israel and supports its actions against Iran's nuclear ambitions," she said.
She claimed Iran now possesses the capabilities necessary to build a nuclear weapon, describing the situation as "unacceptable."
"This Council must urge them to change course," she urged. "The Iranian government must abandon its nuclear ambitions so that there is no more destruction."
Ongoing Israel-Iran hostilities
The speech came as tensions between Israel and Iran remain high. Since June 13, Israel has conducted targeted strikes on Iranian nuclear and military assets, prompting retaliatory missile attacks from Tehran.
Shea cited a G7 leaders' statement from earlier this week, reinforcing the US stance that "Iran is the principal source of instability and terror in the Middle East."
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