Gladness Gideon
Iran has accused the United States of being “complicit” in Israel’s ongoing military strikes, warning that it would respond directly if Washington crosses what Tehran described as a “red line.”
The warning came on Wednesday from Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Ali Bahreini, amid mounting tensions between Iran and Israel, which have intensified since Israel launched a surprise air campaign on June 13, aimed at crippling what it alleges are Iran’s nuclear ambitions — a charge Tehran firmly denies.
Speaking at a press briefing in New York, Bahreini said Iran views the U.S. as a key enabler of Israel’s military actions.
“We firmly believe that the United States is complicit in what Israel is doing,” Bahreini declared. “If we come to the conclusion that the United States is directly involved in attacks against Iran, we will start responding to the United States.”
The ambassador described U.S. statements — including those by President Donald Trump, who denied American involvement but issued warnings to Iran — as “hostile” and “unwarranted.”
“There is a line which, if crossed, there should be a response on our side,” Bahreini warned. “We will respond strongly and we will stop aggression from any side, be it Israel or the United States.”
Iran’s remarks followed reports of overnight strikes, including the use of hypersonic missiles fired by Tehran at Israeli targets — an escalation in the decades-long conflict between the two adversaries.
Bahreini said Iran would not show restraint in the face of what it sees as unjustified attacks.
“We will respond very, very, very seriously and strongly,” he said. “Nobody should expect Iran to show any kind of restraint.”
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He also lashed out at Western and European nations for failing to condemn Israel’s actions.
“Not only are they not condemning the attacks and aggression, they are trying to justify the aggression,” he added.
Asked whether Iran was open to renewing nuclear talks with the United States, Bahreini said the focus remained firmly on defense: “We are not thinking about any scenario other than defending ourselves.”
In a separate statement at the UN Human Rights Council, Bahreini issued a broader warning to Israel’s allies.
“The Israeli regime’s supporters, and the United States at the forefront, should know that supporting this regime means directly supporting international humanitarian and human rights law violations,” he said.
The international community continues to watch with growing concern as the conflict risks spiraling into broader regional instability.