Iran Formally Complains to UN Security Council Over US Military Threats

Iran has lodged a formal complaint with the United Nations Security Council, accusing the United States of threatening the use of force in violation of international law, following a social media post by the American president.

In a letter dated Thursday, Iran’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, addressed Secretary-General António Guterres and the President of the Security Council, James Kariuki, demanding that Washington cease what Tehran describes as “unlawful threats of force.”

The diplomatic note centers on a February 18 post by the US president, in which he allegedly stated that if Iran failed to “make a deal,” Washington might be compelled to utilize the Diego Garcia military base and RAF Fairford in the UK to “eradicate a potential attack.”

Tehran contends that the statement constitutes a “flagrant violation” of Article 2(4) of the UN Charter, which prohibits member states from threatening or using force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.

According to the letter, the rhetoric is further exacerbated by what Iran calls a “continued build-up and movement” of American military assets in the region. The Iranian mission warned that the combination of explicit threats and military positioning “signals a real risk of military aggression,” the consequences of which would be catastrophic for the Middle East and pose a grave threat to international peace.

Despite the accusations, Iravani reiterated Tehran’s commitment to diplomacy, stating that the Islamic Republic has engaged “constructively, with seriousness and in good faith” in nuclear negotiations with Washington. The talks, conducted within the framework of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), aim to secure the lifting of sanctions and resolve ambiguities surrounding Iran’s nuclear program.

Iran argued that a durable agreement remains achievable if the United States demonstrates respect for the UN Charter.

In its appeal to the 15-member council, Tehran urged the body to “act without delay” to uphold its mandate of maintaining international peace. The letter warned against the normalization of military threats as instruments of foreign policy.

While affirming that it does not seek war, the Iranian mission cautioned that it would respond “decisively and proportionately” if subjected to military aggression, citing its inherent right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter.

“In such circumstances, all bases, facilities, and assets of the hostile force in the region would constitute legitimate targets,” the letter warned, adding that the US would bear full responsibility for any “unpredictable and uncontrolled consequences.”

Iran has requested that the communication be circulated as an official document of the Security Council.