Ambassador's Statement at UNSC: U.S.-Israeli Regime's Acts of Aggression

Iran's Ambassador has delivered a statement during an emergency UN Security Council meeting to discuss the acts of aggression conducted against the Islamic Republic of Iran by the United States and the Zionist Regime of Israel. The full text of the statement is as follows:

Statement by

H.E. Mr. Amir Saeid Iravani

Ambassador and Permanent Representative

of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations

Before the United Nations Security Council

New York, 28 February 2026

 

In the Name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful

 

Thank you, Mr. President, for convening this emergency meeting. We appreciate the Secretary-General for his briefing and contribution to this meeting. We express our sincere appreciation to the Russian Federation and China for supporting the convening of this emergency meeting of the Security Council to address the manifest aggression committed by the United States and the Israeli regime. I also thank those Council members, in particular, China, Pakistan, and the Russian Federation, who have today taken principled positions in condemning this unlawful act.

Mr. President,

This morning, the United States regime, jointly and in coordination with the Israeli regime, initiated an unprovoked and premeditated aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran for the second time in recent months, while deliberately attacking civilian populated areas in multiple large cities of Iran where millions of people reside. As a result of these brutal armed attacks, hundreds of civilians have been injured much more. The aggression and atrocious crimes of the United States regime and the Israeli regime, and their deliberate and persistent targeting of civilian infrastructure, are ongoing. In addition to numerous civilian residential buildings, the aggressors have also targeted a school in the city of Minab, Hormozgan Province, killing more than one hundred children. The number of innocent civilians continues to rise. This is not only an act of aggression; it is a war crime and a crime against humanity.

Yet, today, once again, the representative of the United States—true to a regrettable pattern—has attempted to distort facts and rely on misinformation to justify the blatant aggression of the United States and Israel against my country. The facts, however, are unequivocal.

The justifications advanced by the representative of the United States today are illegal and entirely devoid of legal foundation. The baseless allegations invoked to defend this unlawful use of force have no standing under international law. The invocation of “preemptive attack,” claims of imminent threat, or other unsubstantiated political claims cannot legitimize aggression. Such claims are unfounded legally, morally, and politically, and they contradict the clear principles of the Charter of the United Nations.

I also categorically reject the assertions made by the representatives of France, the United Kingdom, and certain other Western members regarding Iran’s peaceful nuclear program. These claims lack a factual and legal basis.

Mr. President, distinguished colleagues,

The President of the United States and the Prime Minister of the Israeli regime have openly claimed responsibility for this act of aggression and have explicitly articulated regime change as their objective—an unmistakable admission of their intent to violate Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The President of the United States has falsely described this aggression as necessary to neutralize an imminent threat to the American people. This is nothing more than a deliberate attempt to mislead the international community and the U.S. public opinion and manufacture consent for unlawful war.

Similarly, the representative of the United States has cynically sought to mislead this Council. Yet history provides ample documentation that the foreign policy of the United States has repeatedly relied on unlawful force, covert intervention, and political manipulation to alter the governments of other Member States. This record is well established. The reality is clear and undeniable: what is taking place today against my country by the United States and the terrorist regime of Israel is a blatant act of aggression—a full-fledged violation of international law. No justification, no accusation, no narrative of disinformation can legitimize or excuse this manifest crime and aggression.

Mr. President,

We have communicated on several occasions with this Council and the Secretary General about warmongering statements and interfering actions in the internal affairs of Iran by the President of the U.S. in blatant violation of the UN Charter and international law, and called for Council action. Regrettably, all were unanswered.

The issue before the Council is straightforward: whether any Member State may, including a permanent member of this Council, through the use of force, coercion, or aggression, determine the political future or system of another State or impose control over its affairs.

International law and the Charter are explicit on this matter. Article 2 (4) of the Charter categorically prohibits the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State.

Mr. President,

Against this backdrop. I would like to make the following points:

First: What is occurring against my country is a clear act of aggression. It is an open armed aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran. The United States’ and Israel’s war today is not merely a war against Iran; it is a war against the Charter of the United Nations, a war against international law, and a war against the international legal order upon which the United Nations and the Security Council have been built for over eight decades. As the Charter affirms, the United Nations was established “to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war. The Charter, adopted in 1945, is founded upon this fundamental principle: Members shall refrain from the threat or use of force in international relations. The sole exception is the inherent right of self-defense under Article 51, and only in the event of an armed attack. The military aggression carried out by the United States and Israel satisfies none of the criteria of lawful self-defense. Accordingly, the action of the United States and Israel constitutes a manifest violation of Article 2 (4) of the Charter—a peremptory norm (jus cogens) and a foundational principle of international law accepted by all Member States. Neither the Charter nor international law recognizes internal matters of States as justification for the use of force by other States. Were this otherwise, no international legal order could endure; the rule of law would be replaced by the rule of force.

Second: In responding to aggression and large-scale war, the Islamic Republic of Iran is exercising its inherent and lawful right of self-defense under Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations. The Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran are utilizing all their necessary defensive capabilities and means to confront this criminal aggression and deter the hostile acts. Consequently, all bases, facilities, and assets of the hostile forces in the region shall be regarded as legitimate military objectives within the framework of Iran’s lawful exercise of self-defense. Iran will continue to exercise its right of self-defense decisively and without hesitation until the aggression ceases in full and unequivocal terms.

Third: Iran remains firmly committed to respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its neighboring countries. Under no circumstances will we target the sovereignty, people, or interests of our neighboring countries in the Persian Gulf. Our legitimate response has been directed solely and exclusively at the bases and assets of the hostile Government of the United States that operate beyond the control of the host states. Priority has been given to targets that diminish the aggressor’s capability and capacity to continue its malign actions. We had previously and formally conveyed this warning to the Secretary-General and the Security Council.

Fourth: Despite continuous U.S. hostile policy, we were sincerely and seriously pursuing the path of diplomacy and dialogue to reach a just, fair, and sustainable agreement. Yet, for the second time in the midst of negotiations, the United States betrayed diplomacy and resorted to force and launched an attack against my country in blatant violation of the Charter of the United Nations. Brazenly interfering in Iran’s internal affairs, they are even calling on the people to riot against their own government. The recent record of the United States toward Iran is equally clear. Since January 2025, the U.S. administration again reinstated its hostile approach, including the policy of the so-called “maximum pressure” and economic strangulation through sweeping and debilitating sanctions. The General Assembly has repeatedly voted by overwhelming majorities against such unilateral coercive measures. The objective of these illegal measures has been transparent: unconditional surrender. Despite repeated warnings by Iran to the Secretary-General and the Council regarding serious violations of the Charter by a permanent member, the Council has regrettably failed to discharge its primary responsibility, allowing the erosion of the rule of law in favor of the rule of force.

Fifth: Just as the Israeli regime succeeded in dragging the United States into the quagmire of war with Iran, the United States, in turn, is deliberately seeking to expand the scope of the conflict by exploiting its bases in the Persian Gulf region. The hostile U.S. Government’s dream of swallowing Iran and forcing the Islamic Republic of Iran into submission will never be realized. This war, before being a contest of military equipment and advanced technologies, is a battle of wills—and in that battle, the Islamic Republic of Iran will prevail. Furthermore, the Islamic Republic of Iran has repeatedly affirmed its commitment to diplomacy and negotiation. However, it will never submit to pressure, coercion, or force. Diplomacy has rules and principles; it cannot coexist with aggression.

Sixth: The duty of Council members is to defend international law and, specifically, the Charter. They are not called upon to judge the political systems of States, nor to determine whether military aggression or economic siege leads to freedom or domination. Expressions of concern and empty condemnations are not sufficient. The Council must act. Pursuant to Article 39 of the Charter, the Security Council must immediately:

Determine that the United States and Israeli regime have committed an act of aggression and demand the immediate cessation of its unlawful use of force, including any explicit or implicit threats against Iran, and require binding assurances of non-repetition; and

Affirm that the United States and the Israeli regime bear full international responsibility for all material and moral damages inflicted upon the infrastructure and facilities of the Islamic Republic of Iran and are obligated to provide full reparation.

Let me conclude, Mr. President, with a simple and undeniable truth:

Israel and the United States have attacked Iran. They have violated international law and the Charter of the United Nations. They must be held accountable.

So long as this aggression continues, Iran will continue to exercise its inherent right of self-defense—firmly, proportionately, and without hesitation—until the aggression ends.

The Security Council must act—now and stop these acts of aggression immediately. Silence is complicity in this crime.

Mr. President, we wish to categorically reject and unequivocally condemn the outrageous and false justifications that are going to be put forward by the representative of the Israeli regime.

The record of this regime is defined by aggression, occupation, genocide, systematic violations of international law, and persistent resort to force. Considering such a record, the regime’s allegations lack all credibility. No responsible member of this Council would take his claims seriously.

Thank you.

Following the statement, H.E. Iravani exercised the right of reply in response to the remarks made by the U.S. representative. The text of Ambassador Iravani’s response is as follows:

I have one word only: I advise the representative of the United States to be polite. It will be better for yourself and the country you represent.