At UN, Israel and Iran warn each other against attacks

Israel, backed by the United States, and Iran on Wednesday threatened each other with retaliation if attacked as the United Nations Security Council met amid fears of a wider war in the Middle East.

"This deadly cycle of tit-for-tat violence must stop," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the 15-member council. "Time is running out."

The council met after Israel killed the leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah and began a ground assault against the Iran-backed militant group and Iran attacked Israel in a missile strike.

"Israel will defend itself. We will act. And let me assure you, the consequences Iran will face for their actions will be far greater than they could ever have imagined," Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon told the council.

Iran's UN Ambassador Amir Saied Iravani said the missile attack on Tuesday was "to restore balance and deterrence." He said further escalation could be avoided if Israel stopped the war in Gaza and attacks on Lebanon.

"Iran is fully prepared to take further defensive measures, if necessary, to protect its legitimate interests and defend its territorial integrity and sovereignty against any acts of military aggression and the illegal use of force," he said.

US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the council that U.S. support for Israel had been defensive.

"Let me be clear: The Iranian regime will be held responsible for its actions. And we strongly warn against Iran – or its proxies – taking actions against the United States, or further actions against Israel," she said.

French UN Ambassador Nicolas de Riviere said France wants the Security Council to "show unity and to speak with one voice" to de-escalate the situation. Thomas-Greenfield said the council should condemn Iran and impose "serious consequences" on Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps for its actions.

Israel and the United States both called for sanctions on Iran.