Iran accused on Monday US President Joe Biden of contradicting repeated American claims to support de-escalation in the Middle East by giving tacit approval and support to an Israeli attack against the country.
Iran’s UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani called Biden’s statement that he knows when and how Israel may respond to Tehran’s missile barrage on the country in early October “profoundly alarming and provocative.”
Biden was asked in Berlin last Friday whether he had an understanding of when and how Israel may respond, “Yes and yes,” he responded, refusing to offer any details.
Iravani said in a letter to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the UN Security Council on Monday that Biden’s knowledge, coupled with the US provision of technical expertise and advanced weapons including sophisticated air defense systems to Israel, “would make the US government `complicit’ in any Israeli aggression against Iran and its consequences.”
The Iranian ambassador claimed in the letter obtained by The Associated Press that any Israeli action would violate international law and the UN Charter and have “catastrophic consequences on regional and international peace and security.”
The UN Charter says all member nations -- now 193 -- shall refrain from threatening or using force against another country, but if attacked a country can take action in self-defense.
Iran called on the Security Council “to unequivocally condemn this reckless provocation,” and also demand that the US “leverage its substantial influence to compel Israel” to immediate end the war in Gaza and attacks in Lebanon.