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Iran reserves right to counter ‘insolent’ US piracy: UN envoy
US bears ‘full responsibility’ for fallout from seizure of vessels
Iran's ambassador to the United Nations underlined that Iran reserves all rights to duly confront the United States' seizure of Iranian vessels as part of Washington's continued illegal blockade against the country.
In a letter dated Wednesday, Amir Saeid Iravani said he was writing "to bring to the urgent attention" of the UN Security Council the "continuing internationally wrongful acts of the United States through yet another piracy-style seizure and deliberate targeting of commercial vessels, namely the M/T Majestic and M/T Tifani."
Iravani pointed to a public statement released earlier by a US attorney, describing it as "an explicit and deliberate admission of internationally wrongful conduct." He noted how the attorney had "boasted of the pirate-style seizure" of the two vessels and the subsequent stealing of 3.8 million barrels of Iranian oil.
"The US attorney’s statement clearly confirms that the United States armed forces have interdicted, boarded, and forcibly seized Iran’s commercial vessels on the high seas on the basis of their bullying attitude," the letter read.
"Such conduct is nothing but another clear example of US addiction to lawlessness and constitutes a flagrant violation of the Charter of the United Nations, in particular Article 2(4)," he added.
Such actions against vessels engaged in legitimate commercial activity also pose a direct threat to maritime safety and security, and escalate the volatile situation in the region, the ambassador underscored.
The United States bears full and undeniable international responsibility for the consequences of such atrocities, Iravani noted, stressing, "The Islamic Republic of Iran has every right, in accordance with international law, to counter these insolent actions."
He called on the Security Council to condemn the seizures, demand the immediate and unconditional release of all seized vessels, cargo, and property, and take measures to prevent their recurrence.
The United States began taking such measures against Iranian vessels, despite President Donald Trump's announcement on April 7 of a two-week lull in unprovoked American aggression against the Islamic Republic. Tehran has condemned the blockade as a violation of the terms of the ceasefire and reciprocated by closing down the strategic Strait of Hormuz to all traffic with the exception of the vessels that manage to obtain permission from relevant Iranian authorities for transit through the chokepoint.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei also condemned the US for what he called the “outright legalization of piracy and armed robbery on the high seas.”
"Welcome to the return of the pirates — only now, they operate with government-issued warrants, sail under official flags, and call their plunder 'law enforcement,'” he said on Monday.
“The United States must be held fully accountable for this brazenly lawless behavior, which strikes at the heart of international law and international free trade, and threatens the basic principles of maritime security," he added.
Iran's military has vowed to decisively retaliate the acts of “piracy” by the US military forces against Iranian ships.