Iran has formally lodged a complaint with the United Nations Security Council, accusing the United States of issuing direct threats of military action and breaching international law.
In a letter dated February 19, 2026, addressed to UN Secretary-General António Guterres and the Council’s President, James Kariuki, Iran’s Ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, alleged that Washington had violated the UN Charter by publicly threatening the use of force against Tehran.
According to the communication, the complaint was prompted by a February 18 social media post attributed to U.S. President Donald Trump.
In the post, the president reportedly suggested that if Iran declined to “make a deal,” the United States could consider using military facilities at Diego Garcia and RAF Fairford in connection with a potential strike.
Tehran described the remarks as a clear violation of Article 2(4) of the UN Charter, which prohibits the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.
Iranian officials argued that the rhetoric, combined with what they called an ongoing build-up of American military assets in the region, heightens the risk of confrontation.
“The situation must not be viewed as mere political rhetoric,” the letter stated, warning that continued military deployments and public threats could destabilize the Middle East and endanger global peace.
Despite the accusations, Iran reiterated its commitment to diplomatic engagement. Iravani wrote that Tehran remains dedicated to resolving disputes through dialogue and is participating in nuclear negotiations in good faith.
He said the talks aim to secure the removal of what Iran terms unlawful unilateral sanctions while clarifying issues surrounding its nuclear programme within the framework of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
The letter stated that a balanced agreement remains achievable if the United States approaches negotiations with respect for international law and the principles of the UN Charter.
Iran called on the Security Council to fulfill its responsibility for maintaining international peace by urging the United States to cease what it described as unlawful threats.
It also requested that the letter be circulated as an official document of the Council.
While stating that it does not seek conflict, Tehran warned that it would exercise its right to self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter if attacked.
In that scenario, it said, U.S. military bases and assets in the region could be considered legitimate targets, holding Washington accountable for any resulting escalation.
Iran petitions UN security council over alleged United States military threats
