U.S. Ambassador Challenges Iran at UN Security Council
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz addressed Iran at a recent U.N. Security Council meeting. Waltz expressed that Tehran “will not silence” the council following claims from Iran’s representative that members were spreading falsehoods about a recent attack by Iran on neighboring Gulf states.
Waltz responded to Iranian diplomat Amir Saeid Iravani by reminding him, “This is the United States of America. This is the United Nations Security Council. You will not silence this body.” His comments came during an emergency meeting focused on drone and missile attacks targeting Bahrain and Kuwait, which followed new U.S. airstrikes on Iran.
Iran’s Response
Amir Saeid Iravani argued during the meeting that the council should not have convened. He accused the U.S., Bahrain, and other members of lying. Iravani claimed, “Once again, the representative of the United States has resorted to lies and disinformation against Iran in a desperate attempt to justify the US’s unlawful acts of aggression.” He also denied “unfounded accusations” by the Council’s Western members and Bahrain’s representative.
He stated that these members ignored the “unlawful aggression committed against Iran” and attempted to shift blame. Iravani described their actions as hypocritical, suggesting they lacked credibility to lecture others.
Waltz Stands Firm
In a statement, Waltz reiterated, “Iran will not silence us on our own soil. That might work in Tehran, but not in the UN Security Council. We will tell the truth.” He presented images of the aftermath of the Iranian attacks, showing the damage caused in Bahrain.
“Are they lying?” Waltz asked in reference to the victims of the attacks. “Is this hypocrisy? Is this what this council is here to denounce today? I ask the representative, are these lies?”
Impact on the Region
Bahrain’s Foreign Minister, Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, reported that since February 28, Bahrain experienced 808 attacks, including 203 ballistic missile incidents and 605 drone attacks. These attacks targeted civilian areas and infrastructure, resulting in civilian casualties and injuries, contradicting Iran’s claims of targeting only military objectives.
The exchanges between Washington and Tehran follow repeated accusations of ceasefire violations. On June 27, President Donald Trump responded to an Iranian drone attack by ordering U.S. strikes on Iranian military targets. This action followed after an Iranian drone struck a merchant vessel near Oman, prompting U.S. military retaliation.
Following these events, Trump conveyed a warning on social media, asserting that there may come a time when military action against Iran becomes unavoidable, threatening the existence of the Islamic Republic.