Live: European countries urge UN inquiry into Iranian drones in Ukraine

Issued on: 22/10/2022 – 10:32

7:11pm: Russian nuke use would be ‘act of hostility against humanity’

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida warned Saturday that Russia using nuclear weapons would be seen as an “act of hostility against humanity”, describing President Vladimir Putin’s sabre rattling as “deeply disturbing”.

“Russia’s act of threatening the use of nuclear weapons is a serious threat to the peace and security of the international community and absolutely unacceptable,” said Kishida, who leads the only country ever hit with a nuclear bomb.

In May next year, Kishida is expected to host leaders from the G7 countries in Hiroshima, where a US nuclear bomb was dropped on August 6, 1945, resulting in the deaths of 140,000 people.

2:06am: European countries urge UN probe of Iran drones in Ukraine

France, Britain and Germany called Friday in a letter to the United Nations for an “impartial” investigation into Iranian drones the West says Russia is using in the war in Ukraine.

“We would welcome an investigation by the UN Secretariat team responsible for monitoring the implementation of UNSCR 2231,” the UN ambassadors of the three countries wrote.

UN Security Council Resolution 2231 endorsed the international agreement that provided for sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on Iran’s nuclear program – a deal that was later scrapped by then-US president Donald Trump.

In their letter, which was addressed to the Security Council and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the ambassadors said they would “stand ready to support the work of the Secretariat in conducting its technical and impartial investigation.”

(FRANCE 24 with AP, AFP and REUTERS)