US Envoy Accuses Iran of Defying UN, Threatening Global Security

TDT | Manama

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United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, delivered a strong rebuke of Iran at the United Nations Security Council, accusing Tehran of deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure across the Gulf, threatening international shipping, and ignoring repeated diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions.

Addressing the Council, Waltz praised Bahrain for leading the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2817 three months ago, which condemned attacks on Gulf nations and called for freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. He welcomed Bahrain’s Foreign Minister, Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, to the Council and thanked UN officials for their briefings.

Drawing on his recent visit to Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf partners, Waltz said he witnessed firsthand the damage caused by Iranian drone and missile strikes. He alleged that Iranian forces deliberately targeted civilian infrastructure, including energy facilities, fire suppression systems, emergency responders and chemical storage sites, in an effort to maximize destruction and endanger thousands of civilians.

He cited a visit to the Bahrain Petroleum Company, where he said Iranian strikes were carefully planned to disable safety systems before hitting fuel storage facilities. According to Waltz, one drone landed in the middle of a residential area without detonating, narrowly avoiding what he described as a potentially catastrophic explosion that could have killed thousands of families.

The US ambassador also accused Iran of disrupting global maritime trade by blocking traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and laying illegal naval mines, actions he said have affected humanitarian shipments, fuel supplies and agricultural exports destined for developing countries. He referred to a recent UN assessment warning that prolonged disruption of the strategic waterway could have lasting economic consequences for dozens of developing nations.

Waltz noted that Bahrain and its Gulf partners had secured the backing of 136 UN member states for Resolution 2817, followed by another initiative supported by 143 co-sponsors calling on Iran to halt illegal mining activities and ensure safe passage through international waters.

Despite those diplomatic efforts, he said, Iran had continued its attacks, citing recent missile and drone strikes on civilian infrastructure in Bahrain and Kuwait, as well as attacks on commercial vessels transiting Omani waters. He questioned Iran’s claims of self-defence, arguing that targeting neighbouring countries and international shipping could not be justified under international law or Article 51 of the UN Charter.

The ambassador also criticised Iran’s domestic human rights record, alleging that authorities have intensified crackdowns on protesters, increased executions and restricted internet access. He referenced reports by Amnesty International alleging arbitrary detentions, torture and executions following anti-government demonstrations.

Concluding his remarks, Waltz urged Iran to abandon what he described as a path of confrontation and return to diplomacy. He said Tehran’s actions violate both the recent US-Iran memorandum of understanding on maritime security and UN Security Council Resolution 2817.

“The world cannot continue to suffer,” Waltz said, urging UN member states to hold Iran accountable for its obligations under international law while warning that opportunities for a more peaceful future remain available if Tehran changes course.