TEHRAN – Iran's acting Foreign Minister Ali Baqeri Kani has emphasized the urgent need for international efforts to stop Israel's genocidal campaign against Gaza.

During his meeting with Dennis Francis, President of the UN General Assembly, at the UN headquarters on Monday evening, Baqeri Kani discussed global issues and underscored the necessity of more effective measures to halt Israel's aggressive actions in Gaza.

Expressing appreciation for the General Assembly's constructive efforts since the conflict's onset, including the passage of relevant resolutions, Baqeri Kani called for intensified global efforts to end the Israeli regime's attacks and genocidal crimes against Gazans.

Upon his arrival in New York, Baqeri Kani was welcomed by Iran's Permanent Ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeed Iravani. Leading a delegation, he is slated to participate in a UN Security Council session on Palestine and multilateralism.

The upcoming meetings, chaired by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, whose country holds the Security Council's rotating presidency, are deemed crucial by Baqeri Kani for addressing pressing global issues and their implications for Iran.

Highlighting the dire situation in Gaza, Baqeri Kani condemned the ongoing genocide and systematic crimes perpetrated against its population over the past nine months. He reaffirmed Iran's steadfast engagement on the Palestinian issue, stressing its proactive role in political, legal, and diplomatic forums.

Referring to the late Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian's advocacy at the previous General Assembly and Security Council sessions, Baqeri Kani emphasized Iran's commitment to using the UN Security Council's platform to defend Palestinian rights and expose Israeli atrocities.

Israel’s war on Gaza escalated on October 7 when Palestinian Resistance groups launched retaliatory operations into occupied territories. Gaza has since faced a severe blockade, severely restricting essential supplies like food, medicine, electricity, and water.

Casualty figures underscore the humanitarian crisis, with at least 38,664 Gazans killed, predominantly women, children, and adolescents, and 89,097 sustaining injuries during the brutal offensive.

Shortly after the conflict's outbreak, the General Assembly overwhelmingly passed a resolution urging an immediate "humanitarian truce" in Gaza, reflecting global concern over the escalating crisis.