WANA (May 28) – Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, described Iran’s actions in the Strait of Hormuz as lawful and consistent with international law, stressing that Tehran could not allow the strategic waterway to become a route for hostile actions and military aggression against the country’s sovereignty and vital interests.

 

Speaking on Thursday at a UN Security Council meeting titled “Upholding the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter and Strengthening the UN-Centered International System,” Iravani said the United Nations was founded to prevent war and establish a legal order based on the UN Charter.

 

Referring to Article 2(4) of the UN Charter, he said the prohibition of the threat or use of force and the ban on aggression are fundamental principles of the international order. He argued that these principles have increasingly been undermined in recent years by unilateralism, unlawful coercive measures, double standards, and disregard for international law, particularly by the United States.

 

The Iranian envoy also described recent US actions against Venezuela, Iran, and Cuba as part of “a continuing pattern of coercion, intimidation, and interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states,” calling them a violation of the principles and purposes of the UN Charter.

 

Referring to developments in 2025 and 2026, Iravani said Iran had been targeted by military actions carried out by the United States and Israel, which he described as clear violations of international law and international humanitarian law. According to him, civilians and civilian infrastructure were deliberately targeted, causing significant human and economic losses.

 

He also criticized the UN Security Council for what he called its silence in the face of “war crimes and grave violations of humanitarian law,” and called for impartial accountability regarding all acts of aggression and breaches of international law.

 

The Iranian ambassador further accused some regional countries of facilitating aggression against Iran by providing support and infrastructure to the attackers. He said several speakers at the Security Council session had ignored the root causes of tensions in and around the Strait of Hormuz.

 

Iravani concluded by emphasizing that “Iran’s actions in the Strait of Hormuz are lawful and in accordance with international law,” adding that the Islamic Republic would continue to defend its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and vital national interests.