Iran Accuses US of ‘Playing Prosecutor and Judge’ in Scathing UN Security Council Diss
Tehran denounces Washington as a “criminal” abusing its UNSC power to spread “lies” about its nuclear program, while the US pushes for a resolution condemning Iranian mining in the Strait of Hormuz.
UNITED NATIONS / TEHRAN — Iran launched a blistering diplomatic attack on the United States on Wednesday, accusing Washington of abusing its power at the United Nations Security Council to “whitewash” its own crimes while spreading false information about Tehran’s peaceful nuclear activities .
In a statement issued by its Permanent Mission to the UN, Iran condemned the US for acting as both “prosecutor and judge” while being itself guilty of violating international law through illegal naval blockades and unwavering support for what Tehran described as “Israeli crimes and atrocities” across the region .
“The culprit and the thief are now playing the role of prosecutor and judge, trying to whitewash his own crimes,” the Iranian mission declared .
The sharp rebuke comes as the United States, in coordination with Gulf states including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, is pushing a draft Security Council resolution that demands Iran cease what it calls attacks on maritime navigation and disclose the location of naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz .
‘A Criminal Playing Prosecutor’
Iran’s statement, issued on May 19, took direct aim at the Biden administration’s handling of the Council. Tehran accused Washington of “once again abus[ing] the UN Security Council’s platform by spreading lies, false accusations, and disinformation against Iran and its peaceful nuclear program” .
The language was unsparing. The Iranian mission reminded Council members that the United States remains the only country in history to have used nuclear weapons and that Washington itself is responsible for “attacks against peaceful nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards, targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure” .
Iran’s UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani has previously detailed what Tehran calls the scale of US-Israeli aggression: since strikes began on February 28, more than 1,348 civilians have been killed, over 17,000 injured, and 19,734 civilian sites—including 16,191 homes, 77 medical facilities, and 65 schools—destroyed or damaged .
Iran’s state-affiliated Mehr News Agency reported that the US is “hypocritically invoking concepts of international peace, security, and freedom of navigation” while continuing to violate international law through its naval blockade and military strikes .
The US Draft Resolution: Condemnation Over Mines
The diplomatic clash comes against the backdrop of a US-drafted Security Council resolution co-authored with Bahrain and supported by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Qatar .
The draft resolution, which has already faced firm objections from Russia and China during closed consultations, condemns what Washington describes as Iranian threats to maritime security, specifically calling on Tehran to:
- Halt all attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz
- Cease mining activities in strategic waterways
- Disclose the location of any naval mines already deployed
- Refrain from interfering with mine-clearance operations
According to diplomatic sources, an earlier version of the resolution invoked Chapter VII of the UN Charter—the provision that allows for economic sanctions and military enforcement. However, following resistance from Russia and China, the US revised the draft to remove the Chapter VII reference while retaining “tough language” that includes a clause stating the Council would “meet again to consider effective measures” if Iran fails to comply .
Despite the revision, Russia reportedly wants the proposal completely rewritten or withdrawn, while China has raised concerns over the text’s perceived partiality toward Washington .
Iran’s Counter-Narrative: A ‘One-Sided’ and ‘Provocative’ Text
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has already preemptively urged UN member states not to support what he described as a “one-sided and provocative” resolution .
In a letter addressed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and member states earlier this month, Araghchi argued that the proposed resolution “ignores the root cause of current tensions”—namely, the US and Israeli military actions against Iran that began on February 28 .
“The current situation is directly and exclusively the result of their unjustified and illegal war of aggression,” he wrote .
Araghchi warned against attempts to “misuse the UN Security Council to legitimize unilateral actions and violations of international law,” stating: “The international community should not allow the Security Council to be abused by aggressors or turned into a tool for legitimizing illegal actions” .
Iranian officials have also rejected the resolution’s demands regarding the Strait of Hormuz, arguing that normal maritime transit will only resume once the war permanently ends and sanctions and the blockade against Iran are lifted .
The Bigger Picture: US Accused of ‘Reverse Engineering’ the Narrative
The current dispute at the Security Council is not new. Iran’s Iravani has previously accused the United States of “reverse engineering the narrative”—portraying Iran, the victim of aggression, as the aggressor, while whitewashing the crimes of Washington and its allies .
In March, Iran objected to the US using its position as President of the Security Council to convene a meeting under an agenda item Iran argued had “already expired,” calling it a “blatant abuse of the powers and procedures of the Security Council for narrow political purposes” .
During that same meeting, Iravani elaborated on what Tehran sees as a fundamental legal problem: the Security Council has been unable to fulfill its responsibility to maintain international peace and security because of obstruction by the United States and certain Western countries .
“As long as the Council fails to discharge its duties, Iran has no choice but to exercise its inherent right of self-defense under the UN Charter and international law,” Iravani stated .
The Veto Factor: Russia and China Block Previous Resolutions
The US-Iran showdown at the UN is complicated by the presence of Russia and China, both permanent Security Council members with veto power and both aligned with Iran as fellow BRICS members.
A previous US-supported resolution was blocked last month when both Russia and China used their vetoes, with some diplomats suggesting that earlier proposal was seen as potentially opening the door for legitimizing US military action against Iran .
This time, the US has made diplomatic concessions—including removing the Chapter VII clause—in an apparent attempt to win broader support. However, early signs suggest Russia and China remain unconvinced.
US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz has warned that rejecting the resolution would set a “very dangerous precedent” and questioned whether opposing countries could “truly claim to support peace and maritime security” .
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has described the draft as a “key test of the United Nations’ credibility” .
Yet China and Russia have signaled that any text perceived as legitimizing US military action against a fellow BRICS member is a non-starter. A vote on the revised resolution has not yet been scheduled.
Iran’s Position: A ‘Legitimate Right’ to Self-Defense
Iran grounds its rejection of the US draft resolution in international law, specifically the right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter.
Tehran argues that because the Security Council has failed to stop the US-Israeli war of aggression, Iran has “no choice but to continue to exercise its inherent right of self-defense to safeguard and defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity” .
Iran’s officials have repeatedly stated that the country does not seek to close the Strait of Hormuz for its own sake—indeed, Iran profits from the energy trade that passes through it. However, as long as what Tehran calls an “illegal war” and “naval blockade” continue, Iran will not return the strait to normal conditions without guarantees .
Looking Ahead: A Divided Council
The Security Council is scheduled to continue discussions on the draft resolution. While the US and its Gulf allies press for a vote, the prospect of another Russian-Chinese veto looms large.
For Iran, the outcome is less about the text of any resolution and more about the narrative. By accusing the US of abusing its power at the UN, Tehran seeks to frame the conflict not as a dispute over nuclear enrichment or maritime navigation—but as a struggle between a powerful aggressor wielding international institutions as weapons and a victim nation defending its sovereignty.
In the words of Iran’s UN Mission: “The criminal and the thief are now playing the role of prosecutor and judge” .
Whether the Security Council’s other members agree will become clear in the coming days—and may determine not only the fate of the resolution, but the credibility of the Council itself.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What specific accusation did Iran make against the United States at the UN Security Council?
A: Iran accused the United States of “abusing its power” at the Security Council by spreading “lies, false accusations, and disinformation” about Iran’s peaceful nuclear program. Iran’s UN Mission described Washington as “the culprit and the thief playing the role of prosecutor and judge, trying to whitewash his own crimes” .
Q2: What is the US draft resolution that Iran is protesting?
A: The US, together with Bahrain and with support from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, and Qatar, has submitted a draft resolution to the Security Council that condemns Iranian attacks on vessels and mining activities in the Strait of Hormuz. It demands that Iran halt attacks, disclose mine locations, and refrain from interfering with clearance operations .
Q3: Have Russia and China supported the US resolution?
A: No. Both Russia and China vetoed a previous US-backed resolution and have signaled opposition to the current draft. Russia has suggested the text be withdrawn or rewritten, while China has raised concerns over the resolution’s perceived partiality toward Washington .
Q4: What does Iran say is the “root cause” of the current crisis?
A: Iran argues that the US and Israeli military strikes that began on February 28 are the “root cause” of the current situation. Tehran states that normal maritime transit through the Strait of Hormuz will resume only when the war permanently ends and sanctions and the blockade are lifted .
Q5: Why does Iran believe the US is “hypocritical” in its Security Council demands?
A: Iran points out that the United States is the only country to have used nuclear weapons in history and is currently waging what Tehran calls an “illegal war” against Iran. Iran argues it is hypocritical for Washington to demand that Iran cease defensive actions while continuing its own military strikes and naval blockade .
Q6: What legal basis does Iran claim for its actions in the Strait of Hormuz?
A: Iran invokes Article 51 of the UN Charter, the right to self-defense. Iran argues that because the Security Council has failed to stop the US-Israeli war of aggression, it has “no choice but to continue to exercise its inherent right of self-defense” .
This is a developing story. Reflecto News will continue to provide updates on Security Council deliberations and any vote on the US-Bahraini draft resolution.