Iran Accuses US and Israel of "Heinous Terrorist Acts" in Letter to UN

JAKARTA - Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Sunday officially accused the United States and Israel of carrying out "cowardly terrorist acts" targeting Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

In a letter addressed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and members of the Security Council, Foreign Minister Araghchi said the US and Israel deliberately targeted Khamenei on February 28 in "unjustified and unjustifiable acts of aggression" against Iran's sovereignty.

"I am writing this letter to convey to you urgently the latest heinous and criminal acts committed against the great country of Iran by the United States and the Israeli regime," the letter read, launching Anadolu (2/3).

"Failure to respond decisively to such actions will not only embolden the perpetrators but will also inflict lasting and irreparable damage on the foundations of the international legal order for decades to come," he continued.

Further, Foreign Minister Araghchi called the attack a "grave and unprecedented" violation of international law, citing Article 2(4) of the UN Charter, which prohibits the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.

As previously reported, Israel and the United States launched an attack on the capital Tehran and a number of cities in Iran on Saturday.

Quoted from ABC, the United States dubbed the operation "Operation Epic Fury" while Israel called it "Operation Roaring Lion."

Since Saturday morning, Israel and the US have carried out attacks on Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khemenei and many other high-ranking security officials.

In response, Iran launched drone and missile attacks against Israeli and US assets in the region that prompted many Gulf countries to close their airspace.

The letter also refers to Article 51, affirming what Iran describes as its "inherent and indisputable" right to self-defense.

"In view of the above, and at a time when the unfortunate normalization of gross violations of international law threatens the integrity of the international system, the Islamic Republic of Iran earnestly calls on the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Security Council to carry out the responsibilities mandated by the UN Charter to maintain international peace and security and take immediate, concrete, and effective steps to ensure full accountability of the United States and the Israeli regime for the heinous terrorist acts mentioned above," said Foreign Minister Araghchi.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Araghchi also asked that the letter be circulated as an official document of the Security Council.