Amir Seid Irabani, the UN ambassador from Iran, criticized the involvement of the US in the ongoing conflict with Israel, stating that the National Army would determine an appropriate response following President Trump’s order to bomb three Iranian nuclear facilities on Saturday.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran has consistently warned that, despite its legitimate rights and resources under international law to defend against this overt US aggression and its Israeli allies, Iran’s Islamic Republic is choosing to avoid getting trapped in this situation,” he told members of Parliament. “The military will decide the timing, nature, and extent of our response.”
An emergency meeting of the UN Security Council took place on Sunday afternoon to address the escalating warfare. Iran, the US, and Israel were among the nations that commented on the attack during this session.
Irabani criticized the US for aiding Israel in what he called a “despicable agenda.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had expressed gratitude to Trump for facilitating their strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, stating, “President Trump and I often say ‘peace through force.’ First, there will be peace. And tonight, President Trump and the United States acted with significant force.”
Irabani also claimed that Netanyahu is “manipulating US foreign policy and pushing the US into another damaging, baseless conflict.”
Before Irabani spoke, Dorothy Shea, the interim US ambassador to the UN, defended Trump’s actions. She noted, “Iran has long obscured its nuclear weapons program and has engaged in good faith in recent negotiations… Now is the time for the US to take decisive action to protect our allies and our own citizens,” referencing the bombings that took place on Saturday.
Shea went on to assert that the Iranian government has been responsible for significant suffering and countless deaths throughout the Middle East for decades, claiming that Iranian officials and their proxies have targeted many Americans, including military personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan. She criticized Iranian officials for intensifying “hostile rhetoric and aggressive activities” in recent weeks.
