SAEDNEWS: Iran's Foreign Ministry said it will use "all available means" to defend itself against what it called U.S. aggression, condemning the naval blockade and military strikes as violations of the UN Charter.
According to Saednews, Iran's Foreign Ministry has issued a detailed statement accusing the United States of violating international law through its naval operations and military actions against Iranian territory. The ministry argued that the U.S. naval blockade and attacks on military and civilian sites, both inside and outside Iran, amount to acts of aggression under the United Nations General Assembly's definition and violate Article 2(4) of the UN Charter.
The statement criticized the UN Security Council for failing to respond, comparing its current inaction to its response during the Iran-Iraq War. It also expressed disappointment with the UN Secretary-General, saying his comments were too limited and lacked meaningful action.
According to the ministry, U.S. activities over the past 15 months satisfy all three conditions outlined in Article 39 of the UN Charter for Security Council intervention: a threat to international peace, a breach of peace, and an act of aggression.
Iran also presented what it described as evidence of repeated U.S. violations of the June 18 ceasefire agreement. It claimed that between July 5 and July 17, U.S. naval vessels operated alongside large oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, while commercial ships were allegedly used to transport military personnel and equipment. The ministry stated that many vessels disabled their tracking systems while taking southern routes to avoid detection by Iranian forces.
The statement further alleged that in July, a U.S. warship positioned itself behind a large LNG carrier while traveling through what Iran described as an unsafe and unauthorized southern route. Iranian officials called the move dangerous and claimed it demonstrated a deliberate attempt to exploit the ceasefire while preparing for future military operations.
Iran also rejected the U.S. justification for launching a new round of attacks on the same day, describing reports of incidents involving three ships as fabricated. The ministry argued that the vessels were intentionally routed through an unauthorized passage in the Strait of Hormuz, allegedly in violation of Article 5 of the ceasefire agreement, which Iran said assigned future management of the strategic waterway to Tehran.
The ministry emphasized that Iran seeks peaceful and friendly relations with neighboring countries along the southern Persian Gulf and stated that it has no hostile intentions toward regional states. However, it warned that under the UN's definition of aggression, any country allowing its territory or facilities to be used for attacks against another nation could be considered complicit. It added that any Iranian military response targeting the source of such attacks should not be interpreted as aggression against the host country.
The statement concluded by reaffirming Iran's commitment to defending its sovereignty, independence, and national interests, while strongly condemning what it described as continued military pressure from the United States and Israel.
