Why it matters:
By explicitly naming Riyadh and Abu Dhabi as facilitators of U.S. strikes, Tehran is transitioning from diplomatic protest to holding regional actors directly complicit in acts of war, fundamentally altering the security calculus of the Persian Gulf.
The big picture:
The U.S. relies on neighboring states to project military power against Iran, transforming West Asian countries into launching pads for unlawful attacks. Tehran's decision to officially document these violations at the UN establishes a legal foundation to target any infrastructure or regime that actively enables U.S.-led aggression in the region.
What he's saying:
Iran’s UN ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani, strongly protested the illegal use of Saudi and Emirati territory, stressing that Iran reserves the right to take all necessary and proportionate measures, including the inherent right of self-defense, to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
What they're saying:
Saudi Arabia and the UAE have maintained complete silence regarding Tehran’s documented evidence. At the same time, the U.S. continues to utilize its airspace as critical corridors for F-35, F-16, and F-15 fighter jets, alongside reconnaissance and aerial refueling aircraft, to carry out strikes against Iranian territory.
Key points:
- U.S. F-16, F-35, F-15, U-2S, P-8A, and KC-135 aircraft utilized Saudi airspace on March 24, 2026, to execute and support attacks.
- The UAE allowed U.S. reconnaissance and strike flights, including F-18s, to operate through its airspace on March 23, 24, and 28, 2026.
- Iran requested that both letters be circulated as official UN Security Council documents to legally cement the complicity of Riyadh and Abu Dhabi.
- Tehran recognizes the continued provision of territory as direct complicity in facilitating armed aggression rather than a mere political dispute.
Go deeper:
This strategic escalation signals that the Axis of Resistance will no longer tolerate passive complicity from regional states hosting U.S. forces. The Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, has previously warned that any country serving as a platform for U.S. hostility will face direct consequences. Iran's formal legal documentation ensures that future retaliatory strikes against assets in Saudi Arabia or the UAE will be firmly justified under international law as acts of self-defense against co-belligerents.
Hossein Vaez - Mahboubeh Habibi
