Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations has accused the United States and Israel of waging what he described as an unlawful war against Iran, while rejecting allegations about Tehran’s nuclear activities and criticising the conduct of the UN Security Council.
Prime 9ja Online reports that the Iranian envoy made the remarks during an address at the United Nations, where he challenged recent diplomatic and military actions involving Iran’s nuclear programme and the broader conflict in the Middle East. The comments, broadcast during a session covered by Al Jazeera, reflected Tehran’s position on recent Security Council proceedings and escalating tensions involving Washington and Tel Aviv.
Addressing the council, the diplomat argued that attempts to revive sanctions mechanisms related to Iran’s nuclear agreement lack legal validity. According to him, “already expired is nothing less than a blatant abuse of powers and procedures of the security council for narrow political purposes.”
He maintained that Tehran had repeatedly communicated its legal position to the UN leadership and the Security Council in previous months. “The position of the Islamic Republic of Iran is clear consistent and firmly on the record including in this official communication to the security council and secretary general during past months,” he said.
The envoy insisted that the legal framework underpinning Security Council Resolution 2231 had already ended. “Security Council Resolution 2231 definitively terminated on 18th October 2025. As of that date, it was concluded to have no legal effect to operate mandate,” he stated.
He further said that some members of the council had acknowledged the argument that the resolution had run its course. According to him, “At today's meeting, two permanent member of the council have taken principle and legal position and objected to the agenda of the meeting considering it illegal and misuse of the president authority by the US and a violation of consu of procedures.”
The Iranian representative also rejected claims by Western governments that the so-called snapback mechanism had been triggered. “The claim made in today meeting by France, United Kingdom and United States that the so-called snapback mechanism has been triggered is baseless and a clear fabrication,” he told the council.
Explaining Tehran’s interpretation of the mechanism, he argued that only active participants in the nuclear agreement could invoke it. “The mechanism was available only to the current GCPA participants according in good faith. Participation is a legal status based on constitute compliance not a historical label.”
He accused three European countries of failing to meet their commitments under the deal. “The three European countries have been in persistent significant non-performance of their obligation under basic principles of international law. A party in material breach cannot invoke enforcement mechanism,” he said.
The envoy added that earlier attempts to activate dispute mechanisms had already failed procedurally. “The E3 yearly attempt to trigger the dispute resolution mechanism was legally and procedurally flawed and exhausted. Accordingly, the Security Council's role under resolution 2231 came to a definitive end. All nuclear related provisions, measures, and restrictions were permanently terminated.”
He warned that Tehran would not recognise any effort to reinstate those restrictions. “The Islamic Republic of Iran will not recognize any attempt by any state or body to revive, reinterpret or reinforce these terminated measures and mechanism in any form including the 1737 committee or panel of experts.”
During his remarks, the ambassador also dismissed accusations regarding Iran’s nuclear programme and military capacity. “During his today meeting again representative of certain western members of the council made baseless claims and deliberate misinformation regarding Iran's peaceful nuclear program, Iran's defensive capabilities seeking to instrumentalize the the security council for narrow political ends,” he said, adding that “Iran categorically reject this legally unfunded and politically motivated allegation.”
He also challenged claims that Iran’s uranium enrichment level represented a step toward nuclear weapons development. “The claims that Iran has enriched uranium to 60%. The level allegedly required for producing a nuclear bomb is a distortion of the facts and ignores the real root of the situation,” he stated.
According to him, the decision to raise enrichment levels came after other parties allegedly breached their obligations. “Iran's decision to increase the level of enrichment was taken solely in response to the violation of commitment by the United States and European countries and was intended as leverage to compel them to return to their obligation.”
He added that Tehran’s actions complied with the nuclear agreement framework. “Iran measures were lawful and explicitly permitted under the GCPA.”
The envoy went on to accuse Washington and Israel of launching an unlawful military campaign. “What is unfolding today is the reality an illegal and illegitimate war launched by Israel and the United States,” he said.
He further criticised the role of nuclear-armed states in the dispute. “Two regimes that posess nuclear weapons against responsible non-uclear weapon state party to the treaty of non-prololiferation of nuclear weapons NPT.”
Referring to long-standing claims about Iran’s nuclear ambitions, he argued that such allegations had not been supported by international inspectors. “Since 2003, more than 20 years, Israel has repeatedly alleged that Iran is on the verge of acquiring a nuclear weapon. Despite the IAEA reports over the years consistently contradicting such unfunded allegation,” he said.
He accused the United States of attacking a country that does not possess nuclear weapons. “Based on these very lies, the United States and nuclear weapon states and the depository of the treaty on the non-prololiferation of nuclear weapon in June 2025 attacked and bombed responsible non-nuclear weapon state whose peaceful nuclear facilities were fully under the safeguards of the agency.”
The envoy described the strikes as unlawful under international law. “This illegal act constituted a clear violation of the union charter, the principles of international law, the IEA statute, the agency relevant resolutions and the MPT which the US is a depository.”
He reiterated that Iran’s nuclear programme had remained peaceful. “Iran nuclear program have always been exclusively peaceful. It was subject to the most extensive and intrusive verification regime applied to any non-nuclear weapon state.”
He also accused Western governments of applying double standards in the global non-proliferation system. “No other state under goes such a volume of inspections and scrutiny. Yet Iran is penalized while those who attack safeguard nuclear facilities are excused. This is the clearest manifestation of double standards and it is precisely this hypocrisy that undermine the credibility and integrity of the global non-prololiferation regime.”
The diplomat further rejected claims that Iran had abandoned negotiations. “The claim that Iran walked away from the nuclear talks is simply untrue. Iran has never abandoned diplomacy,” he said.
He alleged that the United States carried out attacks while talks were ongoing. “However, Iran was attacked for the second times by the United States while negotiations were ongoing. The fact alone exposes the absence of good faith on the part of the United States.”
Turning to a recent Security Council decision, the envoy criticised the adoption of a resolution he described as unfair. “Now, I would like to say a few words about the yesterday's security council meeting which resulted in the adoption of an unjust, biased, and politically motivated resolution.”
He accused Washington of using its position to influence the outcome. “At yesterday's meeting of the council, the United States once again abused its position as president of the council in an attempt to push through a completely political, one-sided and unjust resolution against Iran.”
He claimed that diplomatic pressure had been applied to secure support for the measure. “But the fact is clear over the past two days, many of the so-called corresponses of the resolution were subjected to political pressures to secure their support.”
According to him, the resolution failed to address what Tehran considers the central cause of the conflict. “While the root causes of the current tension in the region is clear and undeniable, the so-called resolution deliberately ignored.”
He added that the council had failed to condemn attacks on civilians in Iran. “Yesterday was a shameful day for the security council,” he said.
The envoy also referred to casualties from recent strikes, including schoolchildren. “They were unwilling even to condemn or express concerns over the heinous crime committed by the United States and Israeli against innocent people in Iran, including the massacre of 170 girls student at a school in Minab, Irwan.”
According to the Iranian representative, the resolution demands that Tehran limit its right to defend itself. “Instead, it demands that Iran refrain from exercising it inherent right to self-defense to protect its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and vital interest.”
He argued that such a demand contradicts the UN Charter. “Such a demand is unlawful and entirely contrary to the charter and international law.”
The ambassador said Iran would continue to rely on its legal rights under international law. “As long as the council fails to discharge its duties, Iran has no choice but to exercise its inherent right to self-defense under UN charter and international law.”
Addressing concerns about maritime security, he said Iran remained committed to international shipping rules. “Iran fully respect and remains committed to the principles of freedom of navigation under the law of the sea.”
However, he blamed current tensions in the Strait of Hormuz on US actions. “Rather, it is the direct consequence of the destabilizing actions of the United States in launching aggression against Iran and undermining regional security.”
Responding to questions from journalists after the meeting, the envoy declined to comment on the possibility of naval escorts for vessels in the region. “No, just know I have no response for that,” he said.
He also addressed questions about regional security cooperation. “Iran, Iran is going inherent right to preserve the peace and security in the state of Horus and it is our responsibility.”
The ambassador added that Tehran had held discussions with the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq regarding border security. “We had a serious negotiation with the regional government of the cordistan in Iraq and they u told us that they will keep remain and they are not going to allow any illegal transfer from the territory to the Iranian soil.”
He clarified Iran’s position regarding the strategic waterway of the Strait of Hormuz. “Why I said we are not going to close the straight of Hormos but it is our inherent right to preserve the peace and security in this waterway and it is our right.”