Iran's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations says Iran’s action against Israel was in line with the inherent right of legitimate defense, under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter and in response to the aggressive actions of the Zionist regime.

According to The Iran Project, in identical letters addressed to UN Secretary General and the President of the Security Council on Monday local time, Amir Saeid Iravani said the military operation was in response to the aggressive actions of the Zionist regime, including its violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the assassination of the Hamas leader who was an official guest of the Iranian government, the injury of the Iranian ambassador to Lebanon as a result of the deliberate and indiscriminate targeting of civilians there by exploding pagers last month.

Iravani also warned that Iran's response will be swift, decisive and more severe than in the past and will not hesitate if the Israeli regime repeats its criminal acts.

The full text of letters to the UN regarding the IRGC operation in response to Israeli regime’s terrorism is as followed:

Excellency,

    On instructions from my Government and pursuant to our letter dated 31 July 2024 (S/2024/584), I would like to inform you and the members of the Security Council that on the evening of Tuesday, 1 October 2024 (local time) the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran carried out a series of missile attacks against the military and security targets of the Israeli regime.

This concluded action was in accordance with the inherent right of self-defense, as stated in Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, and in response to the aggressive actions of the Zionist regime, including violations of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the assassination of the political leader of Hamas and former Prime Minister of Palestine in Tehran on 31 July 2024, who was an official guest of the Iranian government, the injury of Iran’s Ambassador to Lebanon due to the deliberate and indiscriminate targeting of civilians in Lebanon by detonating pagers on 17 September 2024, and the assassinations of the Secretary-General of Hezbollah in Lebanon and General Abbas Nilforoushan, an Iranian senior military advisor, in Beirut on 27 September 2024 (S/2024/584, A/79/359-S/2024/684, S/2024/701).

In contrast to the Zionist regime, which consistently considers innocent civilians and civilian infrastructure as legitimate targets for aggression and massacre, the Islamic Republic of Iran, grounded in ethical principles and the noble teachings of Islam, and in full compliance with the principle of distinction under international humanitarian law, has only targeted the regime's military and security installations with its defensive missile strikes.

It is regrettable that the United Nations Security Council has failed in its fundamental duty to maintain international peace and security. The Council's inaction has allowed Israel to flagrantly breach all red lines and violate the core principles of international law, including international humanitarian and human rights law. This failure has left the Islamic Republic of Iran with no option but to exercise its legitimate rights under international law to take lawful action in defense of its national security and vital interests.

It should be noted that the Islamic Republic of Iran's invocation of the right to self-defense, following an extended period of restraint, reflects Iran's responsible approach to regional and international peace and security at a time when the illegal actions and genocide carried out by the occupying Zionist apartheid regime against the Palestinian people, as well as its repeated military aggressions against Lebanon and Syria, continue.

The Islamic Republic of Iran strongly warns against any acts of aggression by the Israeli terrorist regime against its national security and vital interests. Iran is fully prepared to take further defensive measures, if necessary, to protect its legitimate interests and defend its territorial integrity and sovereignty against any acts of military aggression and the illegal use of force. Should the Israeli regime repeat such an internationally wrongful act again, Iran’s response will be swift, decisive, and stronger than before. In this regard, Iran will have no hesitation.

The Islamic Republic of Iran reiterates its calls upon the Security Council to urgently and decisively intervene to halt Israel’s continued aggression and war crimes against Lebanon, Gaza and Syria and to prevent the situation from escalating into a full-scale regional war.

          I should be grateful if you would circulate the present letter as a document of the Security Council.