Former U.S. Ambassador John Bolton sharply criticized the United Nations after Israel officially severed ties with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, accusing the organization of deep-rooted anti-Israel bias and political double standards. The diplomatic rupture followed the controversial decision to place Israeli forces on a UN blacklist tied to conflict-related sexual violence allegations, a move Israeli officials condemned as defamatory and morally outrageous while arguing the UN continues to ignore Hamas atrocities and regional terrorism.

During an interview with C14 Israel, Bolton described much of the UN’s current role as little more than “damage control,” arguing the institution has increasingly failed to confront major global threats directly. He urged Western allies to aggressively use the UN Security Council to expose Iran’s destabilizing behavior, including Tehran’s threats to shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz and its internal repression, even if Russia and China ultimately block proposed resolutions through veto power.

Bolton argued that forcing Moscow and Beijing to publicly defend support for Iran could shift international opinion and increase diplomatic pressure on regimes aligned against Israel and the United States. Supporters of Israel praised the strategy as a necessary counteroffensive against growing anti-Israel narratives at the UN, while emphasizing that Iran’s actions continue threatening global energy markets, regional stability, and the security of American allies across the Middle East.