The United Nations (UN) Security Council held an emergency meeting summoned by the U.S. airstrike on Iran's nuclear facilities, where the U.S. and Iran clashed.

Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran's Ambassador to the UN. /Courtesy of Yonhap News Agency

During the UN Security Council meeting held on the 22nd (local time), the Iranian representative criticized, "The U.S. attacked Iran's nuclear facilities under false propaganda that Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapons program," stating, "This is an illegal act that violates international law, Security Council resolutions, and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)." In response, the U.S. representative emphasized that the airstrike was conducted under the right of self-defense and retaliated.

Amir Saeed Iravani, Iran's ambassador to the UN, said that day, "Another stain has been recorded in U.S. political history," adding, "Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has once again succeeded in drawing the U.S. into an expensive and unfounded war."

Ambassador Iravani claimed, "All U.S. assertions against Iran have no basis or legal foundation and stem from political motives," and stated, "This week, when the Iranian foreign minister contacted three European countries, the U.S. decided to destroy diplomatic relations."

He further warned, "The aggression of the U.S. and Israel is a violation of international law, the UN Charter, regulations of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Security Council resolutions (Nos. 487 and 2331), and the NPT," adding, "The timing, nature, and scale of Iran's balanced response will be determined by our military."

Dorothy Shea, acting U.S. ambassador to the UN, pushed back firmly. She claimed, "The strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan were aimed at dismantling Iran's uranium enrichment capabilities and preventing the nuclear threat posed by Iran."

She emphasized, "We have taken action to eliminate the source of rapidly expanding global instability and to support our ally Israel under our inherent right of collective self-defense," stating, "Iran should not escalate the situation."

Acting Ambassador Shea also stated, "Any direct or indirect Iranian attack on Americans or U.S. military bases will face devastating retaliation."

Previously, a host on Iranian state television revealed immediately after the U.S. airstrike, "Now, all American citizens and U.S. soldiers in the region have become legitimate targets," expressing the intention of revenge.

Iran has also warned the U.S. that it will result in "eternal consequences," and has carried out multiple missile attacks on Tel Aviv and Jerusalem in Israel.