Statement by H.E. Sanita Pavļuta-Deslandes, PR of Latvia to the United Nations at UN Security Council Briefing on the Situation in the Middle East (Attacks on Bahrain)
New York, 2 July 2026
Merci, Monsieur Président.
Tout d’abord, permettez-moi de féliciter la République Démocratique du Congo pour la prise de fonction de la présidence du Conseil pour le mois de juillet, vous souhaitez beaucoup de réussite et vous assurer du soutien de ma délégation.
I also thank Columbia for the excellent steering of Council’s work last month and I thank Assistant Secretary General Spehar for her valuable contribution, and I do welcome the participation of His Excellency Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain, to today’s meeting, as well as the representative of Kuwait.
Mr President,
We are once again meeting due to reckless attacks perpetrated by Iran, this time against Bahrain and Kuwait on 28 June, well after the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on the cessation of hostilities. These continuous attacks threaten regional stability and endanger the ceasefire agreement enshrined in the MoU. Latvia categorically condemns these attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure and we express our solidarity with Bahrain, Kuwait and our partners in the Gulf.
International law, international humanitarian law must be respected by all parties at all times and we reiterate that for diplomacy to succeed, a complete cessation of hostilities is critical, in full compliance with the Memorandum of Understanding and Resolution 2817. Iran must cease its campaign of unprovoked strikes against its neighbours and abandon any attempts to disrupt free and safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. This includes demining the Strait and ceasing any and all threats and attacks against maritime vessels.
For months now Iran has inflicted suffering on the most vulnerable around the globe by disrupting global supply chains, leading to spiking energy prices and endangering global food security. This follows decades of Iran’s destabilizing activities in the wider region. And let me remind also the Council of the fact that Iran has supplied Russia with drones and missiles for its war of aggression against Ukraine, the same weapons it is now using against its neighbours in the Gulf.
Mr President,
We reiterate our support for the on-going negotiations between the United States and Iran and appreciate the mediation efforts by Pakistan and Qatar, among others. A long-term sustainable solution to the threat Iran poses to the international rules-based order must be found. It is imperative to ensure that Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon, engages with the IAEA and ceases its destabilizing activities in the region and beyond, including attempts to hold an international waterway hostage, in clear violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Latvia will remain a constructive partner in these efforts and we continue to call on Iran to comply with its obligations under international law.
I thank you!