Iran Warns The United Nations About President Trump's Threat: Ensure Self-Defense, Responsibility In The US

Illustration. (Unsplash/mostafa melaji)

JAKARTA - Iran warned the United Nations on Tuesday of what it described as "reckless and inciting statements" by United States President Donald Trump that threatened the use of force, warning "every act of aggression will have severe consequences."

In a letter to the UN Security Council, Iranian Ambassador to the United Nations Amir Saeid Iravani referred to a statement made by President Trump in an interview with the New York Post and Fox News, in which he spoke of preference to make a deal to stop Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons rather than bombing the country.

"This reckless and inciting statement flagrantly violates the international law and UN Charter," Ambassador Iravani wrote to the 15-member council.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran warns that any act of aggression will have severe consequences, which will be the full responsibility of the US," he said.

"Iran will firmly defend its sovereignty, territorial integrity and national interests against any acts of hostility," he said.

Last week, President Trump returned his "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran covering efforts to suppress its oil exports to zero to stop Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

He also said he was open to the deal and expressed the willingness to speak with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

On Monday, President Pezeshkian questioned the sincerity of the United States, while Ambassador Iravani wrote in his letter that the US policy "strengthens unilateral coercion measures that violate the law and increase hostilities towards Iran."

Ambassador Iravani urged the UN Security Council to condemn Trump's "bany rhetoric".

Iran has denied wanting to develop nuclear weapons. However, Tehran " dramatically" accelerated uranium enrichment to 60 percent purity, approaching an arms level of around 90 percent, the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog said in December.