New Delhi: A US diplomat’s verbal slip-up at a UN Safety Council assembly has sparked controversy amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran. Dorothy Shea, the US Chargé d’Affaires advert interim to the UN, unintentionally blamed Israel for spreading “chaos, terror, and struggling” within the Center East earlier than swiftly correcting herself to attribute the chaos to Iran as a substitute.
Throughout her speech, Shea initially acknowledged, “Israel’s authorities has additionally unfold chaos, terror, and struggling all through the area.”
Nevertheless, she rapidly realized her mistake, took an ungainly pause, shook her head, and rephrased her phrases: “Iran’s authorities has additionally unfold chaos, terror, and struggling all through the area.” The momentary lapse drew important consideration, with the incident going viral on social media.
Mrs. Dorothy Shea, United States ambassador to the United Nations: “We will not ignore that #Iran has all that it wants to attain a nuclear weapon” #Israel #IsraeliranWar @USUN pic.twitter.com/YSEEgUXTwf
— Dean Shmuel Elmas (@ElmasDean) June 21, 2025
Regardless of the gaffe, Shea’s message remained clear and agency in its condemnation of Iran’s actions. She emphasised the US’s unwavering assist for Israel, stating, “Let there be little doubt that the US continues to face with Israel and helps its actions towards Iran’s nuclear ambitions.” Shea reiterated the stance of US President Donald Trump, stressing that Iran “should fully abandon its nuclear enrichment program and all aspirations of buying a nuclear weapon.”
The US diplomat was unequivocal in her criticism of Iran, highlighting Tehran’s hostile stance towards Israel. Shea famous that Iran has repeatedly known as for Israel’s destruction and “loss of life to America.” Moreover, she cited the Group of Seven (G7) leaders’ latest assertion, which recognized Tehran because the principal supply of instability and terror within the Center East area.
Shea additionally addressed the continuing battle, stating that Iran’s management might have prevented the present state of affairs had they agreed to a deal that may have prevented them from acquiring a nuclear weapon. “Iran has all it wants to attain a nuclear weapon; the one remaining factor it wants is a call from its supreme chief, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei,” she mentioned. The US diplomat urged the UN Safety Council to press Iran to alter its course, emphasizing that escalating rhetoric would yield nothing for Tehran.
In her speech, Shea reaffirmed that the US was not concerned within the latest Israeli strikes towards Iran. Nevertheless, she made it clear that the US stands firmly with Israel, supporting its actions towards Iran’s nuclear ambitions. “Allow us to not overlook that the Iranian authorities was an enabling and ideological materials pressure behind Hamas’s lethal assault on Israel,” Shea added.