Why it matters:
Iran says the abduction violates Articles 2(4) and 2(7) of the U.N. Charter, warning the move threatens regional and global peace and could destabilize the international system.
The big picture:
The U.S. military attack on Venezuela has drawn international condemnation.
Meanwhile, President Trump's threats against Iran have been met with a strong rebuke from Iranian authorities.
The emergency Security Council session was convened at the request of several countries.
What he's saying:
"The Islamic Republic of Iran strongly condemns the United States’ military attack against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. This illegal action is a clear act of state terrorism," Iran’s U.N. envoy Amir Saeid Iravani said.
“The abduction of the democratically elected president and first lady of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela by the United States is a blatant violation of customary international law, including the principles of immunity and personal inviolability granted to heads of state and government under international law, and constitutes a serious affront to the fundamental principle of sovereign equality among states,” Amir Saeid Iravani added.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran, while reaffirming Venezuela’s inherent right to self-defense, emphasizes the legal responsibility of the United Nations, particularly the Security Council, to take urgent measures to halt this illegal aggression and ensure accountability for all those responsible,” Amir Saeid Iravani noted.
Despite U.S. claims of supporting the Iranian people, Iran pointed to what it described as a record of intervention, military threats, and unilateral sanctions.
"The United States will be fully responsible for any consequences stemming from its unlawful threats and resulting escalation," he stated.
What’s next:
The U.N. Security Council is under increasing pressure to respond to calls from Iran and other countries for urgent action and accountability over what they describe as the U.S.’s “illegal act of aggression.”
Go deeper:
Iran Reaffirms Commitment to Ties with Venezuela
Hossein Amiri - Mahboubeh Habibi
