Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations has issued an urgent request to the Security Council calling on the international community, including top powers, to put an end to Israel’s ongoing strikes against the Islamic Republic and prevent the United States from joining the conflict.
In the letter, shared with Newsweek, Iranian Permanent Representative to the U.N. Amir Saeid Iravani argued Wednesday that “the Israeli regime, in full coordination with the United States, launched a deliberate, premeditated, and large-scale act of aggressing, effective waging war against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
He said that “the situation has dangerously escalated due to mounting and undeniable evidence of direct United States involvement in this unlawful campaign of aggressive war against Iran,” citing “explicit statements and provocative actions by senior U.S. officials,” including U.S. President Donald Trump‘s threat to assassinate Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and conduct strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities.
Calling for an immediate emergency session of the Security Council, whose permanent, veto-wielding members include China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the U.S., he asked member states to condemn “unlawful use of force” against Iran, recognize Israel’s operation “as aggression” and prevent “further aggression, including any involvement by external powers.”
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He also requested the Security Council take “binding enforcement measures to compel the aggressor to halt its violations.”
Should the Security Council fail to meet the historic “test,” he warned of “far-reaching and irreversible consequences for international peace and security,” as well as Iran’s commitment to exercise its “inherent right” to “self-defense.”
Trump called for Iran’s “unconditional surrender” and issued an ominous threat to Khamenei’s life.
“We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social. “He is an easy target, but is safe there – We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now. But we don’t want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin.”
Israel launched a massive campaign of strikes against Iran late Thursday, early Friday local time, targeting sites and personnel tied to nation’s armed forces and nuclear program.
The campaign, which came just days before Washington and Tehran were set to hold a sixth round of nuclear talks, has been backed by Trump. The U.S. leader has since increasingly warned of he may intervene directly in support of Israel and called Tuesday for the Islamic Republic’s “unconditional surrender.”
“I may do it, I may not do it,” Trump told reporters outside the White House on Wednesday. “I mean, nobody knows what I’m going to do.”
Growing signs that the Trump administration was gearing up to enter the conflict include recent movements of U.S. military aircraft and warships, the evacuation of nonessential personnel from the region and a new task force established by the State Department to help U.S. citizens leave the Middle East.
Iran has always denied seeking a nuclear weapon but has significantly ramped up levels of uranium enrichment since Trump abandoned a previous multilateral nuclear agreement during his first administration in 2018.
Israeli officials have alleged that Iran has accumulated enough material to produce up to 15 nuclear bombs.
This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.