New York, Feb 20 (.) Iran has written a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the president of the Security Council on Friday, warning that US bases, facilities, and assets would be Iran’s “legitimate targets” if the United States follows through on its military threats.
Amir Saeid Iravani, the Iranian ambassador to the United Nations, said in a letter that Tehran would respond ‘decisively’ to any attack, warning of serious consequences for military aggression in the region.
The development comes after US President Donald Trump issued an ultimatum to Iran of “10–15 days, pretty much maximum” to make a deal with Washington on the nuclear issue. He added that “bad things” will happen if the sides fail to reach an agreement.
Iran’s permanent mission to the UN also criticised Trump’s rhetoric, saying it “signals a real risk of military aggression” but stressing that Tehran does not seek war. The letter warned that “the United States would bear full and direct responsibility for any unpredictable and uncontrolled consequences.”
The United Nations has expressed concern over US military deployments in the Middle East amid rising tensions. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters, “The Secretary General Antonio Guterres, like others, is very concerned about the military buildup we are seeing, the war games that we are seeing, the training that we are seeing. That is why we were encouraging both the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States to continue their discussions as facilitated by Oman.”
The second round of Iran-US talks on the Iranian nuclear program took place on February 17 in Geneva with Omani mediation. Following the talks, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said there had been progress and that Tehran and Washington would work on texts that could form the basis of a potential agreement.
Trump,who has deployed two US aircraft carriers and thousands of troops to the Gulf region – escalated his rhetoric on social media.
“Should Iran decide not to make a Deal,” the US may need to use an Indian Ocean airbase in the Chagos Islands, “in order to eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous Regime”, he wrote on his Truth Social platform.
A previous negotiating effort collapsed last year when Israel launched attacks on Iran, triggering a 12-day war that Washington joined in by bombing three Iranian nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.
Trump initially issued threats of military action in January following a deadly Iranian crackdown on anti-government protesters. Tehran responded by threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil export route for Gulf oil, and warning it could strike US military bases in the region.
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