Iran on Thursday warned that US bases, facilities and assets would be considered “legitimate targets” should the United States carry out its military threats.
Amir Saeid Iravani made the statement in a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the president of the Security Council, seen by AFP.
President Donald Trump has deployed warships, fighter jets and other military hardware to the Middle East in an effort to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon — a programme Tehran insists it is not pursuing.
The letter cited a social media post by Trump on Wednesday, in which he said the United States might need to use UK military bases, including one on an Indian Ocean island, “should Iran decide not to make a deal.”
“Such a belligerent statement by the President of the United States… signals a real risk of military aggression, the consequences of which would be catastrophic for the region and would constitute a grave threat to international peace and security,” Iravani wrote.
He urged the Security Council—the UN’s top decision-making body, where Washington holds veto power—to “ensure that the United States immediately ceases its unlawful threats of the use of force.”
Iran reaffirmed its commitment to “diplomatic solutions” and said it is willing, “on a reciprocal basis, [to] address ambiguities regarding its peaceful nuclear programme.”
However, Iravani cautioned that if Iran were subjected to military aggression, “all bases, facilities, and assets of the hostile force in the region would constitute legitimate targets in the context of Iran’s defensive response.”
Trump has repeatedly threatened military action against Iran, initially citing a violent crackdown on anti-government protesters last month and more recently over its nuclear programme.
On Thursday, he said Iran had at most 15 days to reach an agreement and again suggested that the United States would strike if talks failed.
His remarks followed discussions on Tuesday in Geneva between US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who met indirectly with Iran’s top diplomat, noting some progress.
Previous negotiations collapsed after Israel launched surprise attacks on Iran in June last year, sparking a 12-day conflict that saw Washington briefly join in bombing Iranian nuclear facilities.
