Iran’s ambassador has said that he has ‘one word only’ for the US in a meeting of the UN in New York City after the US bombed multiple cities in Iran.
Strikes were carried out by the US and Israel against several locations in Iran on February 28, with Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reported killed in the attacks.
In the aftermath, Iran launched missile and drone operations targeting a number of Middle Eastern countries, and also attempted to strike US military bases across the region.
Khamenei had led Iran since 1989, succeeding Ruhollah Khomeini, who oversaw the rise of the Shia Islamist leadership after the 1979 uprising.
His death has thrown the Islamic Republic into uncertainty, while critics of Donald Trump in the US have publicly condemned the decision to attack.
During an emergency UN session, Iran’s representative delivered pointed remarks aimed at the US delegation.
Iranian ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani told the meeting: “I have one word only. I advise to the representative of the United States to be polite.”
He added: “It will be better for yourself and the country you represented, thank you.”
US ambassador Mike Walz replied: “Frankly, I’m not going to dignify this with another response.”
He added: “Especially, as this representative sits here, in this body, representing a regime that has killed tens of thousands of its own people and imprisoned many more simply for wanting freedom from your tyranny.”
Iravani went on to denounce the US and Israel for the military action, stating: “This morning, the United States regime – jointly and in coordination with the Israeli regime – initiated an unprovoked and premeditated aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran for the second time in recent months.”
He added: “This is not only an act of aggression; it is a war crime and a crime against humanity.
“The invocation to ‘preemptive attack’, claims of imminent threat, or other unsubstantiated political claims, are unfounded legally, morally and politically.”
The wave of attacks came shortly after negotiations between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear programme ended without an agreement.
Trump had earlier warned that military steps could follow if no deal was reached, and has since warned of further action should Iran escalate its response.
Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian described retaliation for Khamenei’s death as a “legitimate duty and right”, saying: “The Islamic Republic of Iran considers bloodshed and revenge against the perpetrators and commanders of this crime as its legitimate duty and right, and will fulfil this great responsibility and duty with all its might.”