Iran says it reserves right to respond to Israeli attack ‘at appropriate time’

Iran’s foreign minister said in a letter requesting an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council that his country reserves the right to respond to Israel’s recent attacks “at the appropriate time”.

Foreign minister Abbas Araghchi accused Israel of violating Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and “a flagrant breach of international law and the United Nations Charter”, which prohibits the use of force against any UN member nation.

Israel’s UN ambassador Danny Danon called Iran’s request “another attempt by Iran to harm us, this time in the diplomatic arena”.

“We will stand up for Israel’s right to defend itself,” he said in a statement, stressing that the Israeli attack was in response to an Iranian attack on October 1.

Iran warned the United States that it is “complicit” in Israel’s attacks against the country by providing technical expertise and advanced military equipment “and will bear its consequences”.

Iran’s UN ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani delivered the warning at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council called by his government following Israeli airstrikes against the country early on Saturday.

While Iran has consistently “championed diplomacy” to address regional challenges and foster peace, Mr Iravani said, it reserves the right “to respond at a time of its choosing to this act of aggression” by Israel.

Mr Danon, speaking immediately afterwards, called Iran “the puppet master” behind Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon and pointed to its October 1 launch of at least 180 missiles into Israel.

“We promised that their actions would not go unanswered,” he said.

“Iran’s leaders chose to assault Israel, to destabilise the region and unleash chaos. They promised us destruction. We have answered with strength but also with “restraint.”

But Mr Danon warned that any further Iranian military action “will be met with consequences that are swift and decisive”.

Mr Danon urged Iran to stop its “reckless pursuit of dominance through violence and terror”, saying Israel will not hesitate to protect its people and sovereignty.

Mr Araghchi had urged the Security Council and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in the letter obtained by The Associated Press “to take a firm stance and condemn the Israeli regime for committing these acts of aggression strongly and unequivocally”.

Israel’s airstrikes on Saturday followed Iran’s launch of at least 180 missiles into Israel on October 1. The Iranian airstrikes were in retaliation for devastating blows Israel landed against Iran’s ally Hezbollah in Lebanon.