The UNSC will meet at 4pm New York time (2am PKT) after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, plunging the Middle East into a new conflict, Reuters reports, citing UN diplomats.

The meeting will be chaired by Britain, which holds the monthly council presidency.

Russia’s UN mission said Russia and China requested an emergency meeting “in connection with the unprovoked act of armed aggression by the United States and Israel against the Islamic Republic of Iran”. It said the meeting was also called for by France, Bahrain, and Colombia.

“During the Security Council meeting, we will demand from the United States and Israel to immediately cease their illegal and escalatory actions and embark on a path toward a political and diplomatic settlement,” the Russian statement said.

A UN diplomat said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres plans to speak at the UNSC session.