Iran warns US bases would be “legitimate targets” if attacked

Iran has warned that it would target US military assets in the region if attacked, according to a letter sent to the United Nations, as tensions rise over the possibility of military action.

In correspondence addressed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Security Council President James Kariuki, Iran’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, said Tehran does not seek war but would respond if subjected to military aggression, Caliber.Az reports via Iranian media. 

“If attacked, all bases, facilities, and assets of the hostile force in the region would constitute legitimate targets in the context of Iran’s defensive response. The United States would bear full and direct responsibility for any unpredictable and uncontrolled consequences,” the letter stated, according to Axios correspondent Barak Ravid, who revealed its contents on X.

🇮🇷🇺🇸Iran in a letter to UN Secretary General: "If attacked, all bases, facilities, and assets of the hostile force in the region would constitute legitimate targets in the context of Iran’s defensive response. The United States would bear full and direct responsibility for any… pic.twitter.com/Wnj76fkDOz

— Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) February 19, 2026

Iravani emphasised that “the Islamic Republic of Iran has repeatedly stated at the highest level that it neither seeks tension nor war and will not initiate any war.” However, he added that “in the event that it is subjected to military aggression, Iran will respond decisively and proportionately in the exercise of its inherent right of self-defense under Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations.”

The letter follows remarks by Trump on February 19 that he would decide within “the next probably 10 days” whether to pursue diplomacy with Iran or order a military strike. 

“Now we may have to take it a step further or we may not. Maybe we are going to make a deal [with Iran]. You are going to be finding out over the next probably 10 days,” he said during a Board of Peace meeting in Washington.

US and Israeli officials told Axios that any military operation against Iran would likely involve a large-scale, weeks-long campaign and could begin within days, further heightening tensions in the region.

By Sabina Mammadli