Melania Trump Chairs UN Security Council Meeting as Iran Strikes Continue

Melania Trump made history Monday by becoming the first spouse of a sitting world leader to preside over a United Nations Security Council meeting, leading a session focused on children, technology and education in conflict zones.

The meeting in New York had been scheduled before the United States and Israel launched military strikes against Iran over the weekend as the U.S. holds the council’s rotating presidency for March.

Sitting at the council’s horseshoe table, Melania opened the session with a message centered on children and peace. “The US stands with all of the children throughout the world,” she said. “I hope soon peace will be yours.”

She also offered condolences to American service members killed or injured in recent operations, without naming the conflict directly. “My heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their heroes, who sacrificed their lives for freedom,” she said. “Their bravery and dedication will always be remembered. I extend my earnest wishes for a swift and smooth recovery to all those who have been injured. You are in my thoughts and prayers during these challenging times.”

In her remarks, Melania argued that education can help prevent future wars. “A nation that makes learning sacred protects its books, its language, its science and its mathematics,” she said. “It protects its future.” She also encouraged member states to expand access to artificial intelligence tools in classrooms, saying they should “connect everyone to knowledge through AI, including those in the most remote geographic regions of our world”.

The discussion unfolded against a tense global backdrop. Iranian state media reported that an airstrike hit a girls’ school in southern Iran, killing at least 165 people. Iranian officials blamed the U.S. and Israel. The U.S. military said it is reviewing the reports, while Israel said it was not aware of operations in the area.

Before the meeting began, Iran’s ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, called it “deeply shameful and hypocritical” for Washington to hold a session on protecting children while carrying out airstrikes.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed the allegations on Capitol Hill, saying, “the United States will not deliberately target a school.”

During the session, Rosemary DiCarlo underscored the toll conflict takes on children. “Our reality is clear — when conflicts erupt, children are among those most severely affected. We have been reminded of this truth over the last two days,” she said. She noted that schools in Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman have shifted to remote learning due to military activity in the region, and referenced reports from Iran about children killed in a possible school strike.

The nearly two-hour meeting included statements from council members, including Russia, even as concerns were raised about children affected by the war in Ukraine. Trump has previously worked on efforts to reunite Ukrainian children taken to Russia with their families.

She closed the session with a call to action: “Conflict arises from ignorance, but knowledge creates understanding, replacing fear with peace and unity.” She urged council members to “pledge to safeguard learning in our communities and promote access to heightened education for all” and added, “I implore you to build a future generation of leaders who embrace peace through education.”