Iran envoy tells UN US military in Gulf brings 'nothing but insecurity'

Iran's ambassador to the United Nations on Thursday accused the United States of undermining regional security through its military presence in the Persian Gulf, telling the Security Council that Washington's interference endangers maritime safety rather than protecting it. Amir Saeid Iravani said the council should have refrained from convening while technical talks on the Strait of Hormuz continue. "I categorically reject the baseless allegations made by the United States," he said. "Once again, the representative of the United States has resorted to lies and disinformation against Iran in a desperate attempt to justify the US' unlawful acts of aggression," Iravani added.

US presence 'brings nothing but insecurity'

Amir Saeid Iravani said American bases in the region have put regional security and maritime safety at risk. "It should have been clear that the presence of the US military bases and foreign interference in the Persian Gulf region brings nothing but insecurity. They have put at risk the regional security in general and the maritime safety in particular," he told the council. "The US has no coastal border in our region. It is not their waters. It is not their neighborhood. Defining and concluding a security regime for our region is the exclusive joint responsibility of the neighboring countries, and the US and others, rather than a destructive military presence or interference, need to support regional countries to fulfil such responsibility," Iravani stated.

US vows 'patience not unlimited'

US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz told the council that Iran "cannot — and we cannot allow it to — hold the world's economy hostage," noting that 136 countries had co-sponsored a resolution demanding Tehran keep the Strait of Hormuz open. "Despite the diplomatic achievements and agreements, Iran still hasn't shown the world a basic level of decency and respect. Instead, they openly defied this council, their neighbors, and basic tenets of diplomacy," Waltz said. He added that "President Trump's patience is not unlimited," and responding directly to Iravani, declared: "This is not Tehran. This is the United States of America. This is the United Nations Security Council. You will not silence this body."

Hormuz talks and counter-accusations

Iravani rejected accusations from Western Council members and Bahrain as attempts "to shift blame onto the victim" while ignoring "the unlawful aggression committed against Iran." Addressing Waltz directly, he said: "I ask him whether a maritime blockade is a collective punishment. You were at war with Iran. Why did you prevent international vessels from reaching Iranian ports?" Citing polling, he added that "70% of Americans and taxpayers oppose your administration's war policy toward Iran," while noting technical dialogue with Oman has begun under the June 17 framework deal "provided that the United States faithfully fulfils its own obligations" and warning that "Any external interference or attempt to establish parallel arrangements" would violate the agreement.