Iran has formally lodged a complaint with the United Nations Security Council, accusing the United States of issuing direct threats of military action and violating 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 UN Ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani, alleged that Washington had breached the UN Charter by publicly threatening force against Tehran.
The complaint followed a February 18 social media post attributed to U.S. President Donald Trump, in which he reportedly suggested that the United States could use military facilities at Diego Garcia and RAF Fairford if Iran refused to “make a deal.”
Tehran described the remarks as a 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 warned that the rhetoric, combined with the ongoing U.S. military buildup in the region, increases the risk of confrontation and destabilizes the Middle East.
“The situation must not be viewed as mere political rhetoric,” the letter stated, emphasizing that continued military deployments and public threats could endanger global peace.
Despite the accusations, Iran reaffirmed its commitment to diplomatic engagement. Iravani noted that Tehran is participating in nuclear negotiations in good faith, seeking to resolve issues surrounding its nuclear programme and address what it calls unlawful unilateral sanctions within the framework of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
The letter called on the Security Council to urge the United States to cease the threats, describing them as unlawful, and requested that the communication be circulated as an official Council document.
Iran stressed that it does not seek conflict but warned it would exercise its right to self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter if attacked, noting that U.S. bases and assets in the region could then be considered legitimate targets, with Washington held accountable for any escalation.
