U.S. Defends Strikes on Iran at UN Security Council, Cites Imminent Threat
UNITED NATIONS — In an emergency session of the UN Security Council held on Saturday, February 28, 2026, the United States firmly refuted Iranian accusations of illegal aggression, defending its joint military operation with Israel as a necessary action to neutralize an "imminent threat."
The meeting, called by members including France, Russia, and China, followed a massive wave of airstrikes—codenamed Operation Epic Fury—that targeted military infrastructure and senior leadership within Iran.
The U.S. Defense: "Lawful and Necessary" U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz, addressed the council to counter claims that the strikes violated international law.
National Security: Waltz asserted that the Iranian regime’s persistent pursuit of nuclear weapons and its support for regional proxies created a threat that could no longer be managed through diplomacy alone.
The "Nuclear Red Line": "Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon," Waltz told the council. "This principle is not a matter of politics; it is a matter of global security. The United States is taking lawful actions to ensure this radical regime cannot threaten our people or the world."
Eliminating Threats: The U.S. maintained that the strikes were precisely targeted to prevent an "irreversible" escalation of Iranian military capabilities.
Iranian Accusations and International Reaction Iranian Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani condemned the strikes as a "war crime" and a "flagrant violation of the UN Charter." He accused the U.S. and Israel of attempting to forcibly determine the political future of a sovereign state.
UN Chief's Warning: Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the escalation on both sides, including Iran’s subsequent retaliatory strikes across the Gulf region. He warned that the world is "at the brink" of a wider conflict and expressed deep regret that a recent round of indirect talks in Oman had been "squandered."
Council Divisions: Russia and China joined Iran in demanding an immediate cessation of "unprovoked and reckless" military actions. Conversely, the leaders of Britain, France, and Germany issued a joint statement condemning Iranian retaliatory strikes and urging a return to nuclear negotiations, while notably stopping short of condemning the U.S.-Israeli operation.
The Fallout of the Strikes The emergency meeting took place amid reports that the strikes may have killed Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. While President Donald Trump stated he believed the reports were "correct," UN officials said they were not yet in a position to confirm the status of the Iranian leadership.
As the meeting concluded, the United States prepared to take over the rotating presidency of the Security Council for the month of March, signaling a period of high-stakes diplomacy and military tension.