WANA (Jun 26) – Iran’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, has sent a formal letter to the President of the UN Security Council, strongly condemning and rejecting remarks made by the U.S. ambassador regarding Article 51 of the UN Charter. The letter, which was also addressed to the UN Secretary-General, responds to the U.S. justification for its recent military strike against Iran’s peaceful nuclear facilities.

 

Referencing prior correspondence dated June 13, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, and 23 (documents S/2025/379 through S/2025/410), Iravani condemned the United States’ statements made during the June 24 Security Council meeting (Session 9994, agenda item “Non-Proliferation”) as “distorted interpretations of Article 51 of the Charter.”

 

The Iranian envoy stated that the U.S. ambassador attempted to frame the June 21 attack on Iran’s safeguarded nuclear facilities as a lawful act of self-defense, a claim Iran dismisses as “legally baseless” and “a blatant misrepresentation of international law.” Iravani emphasized that Iran’s nuclear sites are under full IAEA oversight and repeatedly confirmed as peaceful in nature, making any military action against them a clear violation of international norms.

 

Key Points from Iran’s Letter:

 

1. Legal Basis Rejected

Iran asserted that the U.S. claim to preemptive self-defense under Article 51 lacks any legal foundation. “Such a unilateral and self-serving interpretation,” the letter argued, “is inconsistent with the Charter, international law, and the jurisprudence of the International Court of Justice.” Referring to key ICJ rulings (notably the 1986 Nicaragua v. United States and 2003 Oil Platforms cases), Iran reiterated that the right to self-defense applies only in response to an actual armed attack and must meet the criteria of necessity and proportionality.

 

2. Lack of Nuclear Threat

The letter cited the latest IAEA Director General’s report, which found no evidence of nuclear weapons activity or safeguards violations by Iran. It also noted that even U.S. intelligence agencies acknowledge the absence of an Iranian nuclear weapons program. Therefore, the U.S. and Israel’s justification based on an “imminent threat” is legally invalid under international law.

 

 

3. Precedent of UN Resolutions

Iran invoked UNSC Resolution 487 (1981), passed unanimously after Israel’s bombing of Iraq’s Osirak reactor, which condemned military attacks on nuclear sites as Charter violations. The letter stressed that any assault or threat against peaceful nuclear facilities undermines the authority of the IAEA and erodes the global non-proliferation regime.

 

4. Grave International Implications

Describing the U.S. and Israeli attacks as “unprovoked and unlawful,” Iran warned that such actions set a dangerous precedent. The use of force against safeguarded facilities, under the guise of self-defense, weakens the Non-Proliferation Treaty and poses a serious threat to global peace and security.

 

Iran’s Formal Requests:

Iran called on the Security Council to:

Explicitly reject the concept of “preemptive self-defense” as invoked by the U.S. and Israel, labeling it an unlawful and distorted reading of Article 51.

 

Condemn in the strongest terms the use of force against Iran’s sovereignty and its safeguarded nuclear infrastructure, citing violations of Articles 2(4) of the UN Charter, Resolutions 2231 (2015) and 487 (1981), and IAEA protocols.

 

Additionally, Iran urged the UN Secretary-General to:

 

Report on violations of Resolution 487 (1981), particularly concerning recent attacks and threats against Iranian nuclear sites by Israel, and update the Security Council accordingly.

 

Iran requested that this communication be circulated as an official Security Council document.