Iran urges UNSC to avoid provocative moves amid diplomatic talks

Amir Saeed Iravani, Iran's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, addressed the UN Security Council on July 2, 2026, during a briefing on the situation in the Middle East. He urged the Council to refrain from provocative moves that could undermine ongoing diplomatic efforts, particularly the implementation of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on June 17, 2026, between Iran and the United States, facilitated by Pakistan and Qatar.

Iravani rejected what he called baseless allegations by the United States, accusing Washington of resorting to lies and disinformation to justify its unlawful acts of aggression. He stated that the US and the Israeli regime had launched two wars of aggression against Iran, in June 2025 and between February 28 and April 8, 2026, in violation of the UN Charter and international law. These attacks, he said, deliberately targeted civilians and civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and cultural sites, killing over 4,800 civilians, including women and children. He cited the killing of schoolgirls in Minab as a horrific example.

The ambassador also criticized certain Western members of the Council and Bahrain for ignoring the aggression against Iran and shifting blame onto the victim. He emphasized that Iran is the main victim of these wars and that the roles of victim and aggressor must not be reversed.

Iravani highlighted that the US had repeatedly violated the April 8 ceasefire and its commitments under the MoU, including a recent air strike on June 27, 2026, against Iran's southern coastal facilities. He asserted Iran's inherent right of self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter and warned that if aggression continues, Iran will continue to exercise that right.

Regarding Security Council Resolution 2817 (2026), Iravani rejected it as politically motivated, stating that it ignored the root cause of the crisis and denied Iran's right to self-defense. He called on Council members to demand that the US honor its commitments and comply with international law.

Iravani reaffirmed Iran's commitment to the MoU, including provisions for safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. He noted that Iran has begun technical dialogue with Oman and warned against external interference that could delay the restoration of normal navigation.

In conclusion, he stressed that the priority must be full implementation of the MoU and continuation of negotiations toward a comprehensive deal. He urged the Security Council to support this process and avoid provocative actions.

After the session, Iran exercised its right of reply, responding to statements by Bahrain and the US. Iravani accused Bahrain of facilitating aggression by allowing its territory and airspace to be used by aggressors. He also questioned the US representative about the maritime blockade, stating that 70% of Americans oppose the war policy toward Iran. According to Mehr News Agency, the statement was delivered at the UN Security Council.