Iran says U.S. military bases and assets would be “legitimate targets” if Washington launches an attack

Iran on Thursday warned that US military bases, facilities and assets would become “legitimate targets” if Washington carries out its threats of military action.

The warning came in a letter from Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, addressed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the president of the Security Council. The letter was seen by AFP.

US President Donald Trump has recently reinforced the American military presence in the Middle East, deploying warships, fighter jets and other equipment as part of efforts to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon — an ambition Tehran denies pursuing.

In his letter, Iravani referred to a social media post by Trump on Wednesday suggesting that the United States might use British military bases, including one on an island in the Indian Ocean, “should Iran decide not to make a deal.”

Describing the statement as provocative, Iravani wrote that such rhetoric “signals a real risk of military aggression,” warning that the consequences would be catastrophic for the region and pose a serious threat to international peace and security.

He urged the Security Council — the UN’s highest decision-making body, where Washington holds veto power — to ensure that the United States immediately halts what he called unlawful threats of force.

The letter reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to diplomatic engagement and said Tehran remains prepared to address concerns surrounding its peaceful nuclear programme on a reciprocal basis.

However, Iravani cautioned that if Iran were subjected to military aggression, “all bases, facilities and assets of the hostile force in the region would constitute legitimate targets” as part of Iran’s defensive response.

Trump has repeatedly floated the possibility of military action against Iran, initially citing a deadly crackdown on anti-government protests and more recently over concerns about its nuclear programme.

On Thursday, he said Iran had no more than 15 days to reach an agreement, again implying that failure to do so could trigger US strikes.

His remarks followed talks in Geneva on Tuesday between US envoy Steve Witkoff and the president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, who held indirect discussions with Iran’s top diplomat and reported signs of progress.

An earlier diplomatic effort collapsed after Israel launched surprise strikes on Iran last June, sparking a 12-day conflict that briefly drew in Washington, which carried out strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.