Iran alerts UN over Trump’s aggressive rhetoric, vows to defend itself

Iran has formally alerted the United Nations to what it calls "reckless and inflammatory statements" made by US President Donald Trump regarding the potential use of force against Tehran. 

In a letter to the UN Security Council on February 11, Iran’s UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani warned that "any act of aggression will have severe consequences, for which the US will bear full responsibility", Caliber.Az reports via Reuters.

“These reckless and inflammatory statements flagrantly violate international law and the UN Charter,” Iravani wrote in the letter, seen by Reuters. He emphasized that Iran "will resolutely defend its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national interests against any hostile action."

The letter specifically referenced Trump’s recent remarks in interviews with The New York Post and Fox News, where he stated a preference for negotiating a deal to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons rather than resorting to military action. Despite this, Iran remains deeply wary of US intentions.

Last week, Trump reinstated his "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran, aiming to bring its oil exports down to zero in an effort to curb its nuclear ambitions. However, he also signalled openness to negotiations, saying he was willing to talk with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Pezeshkian, however, cast doubt on Washington’s sincerity, while Iravani’s letter to the UN denounced US policies as reinforcing "unlawful, unilateral coercive measures and escalating hostility against Iran." He urged the UN Security Council to condemn what he described as Trump’s "brazen rhetoric."

Iran has consistently denied seeking nuclear weapons, but its uranium enrichment has sharply increased. In December, the head of the UN nuclear watchdog told Reuters that Tehran had been "dramatically" accelerating its enrichment of uranium to 60% purity — just short of the 90% level needed for weapons-grade material.

By Tamilla Hasanova