Iran’s permanent ambassador to the United Nations, Amir-Saeed Iravani, has labeled the United States as the primary defender and promoter of terrorism in West Asia and globally. In a letter to the UN Security Council (UNSC) on Monday, Iravani responded to accusations made by U.S. envoy Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who had claimed Iran supports terrorism in the region during a UNSC briefing on international peace and security.

Iravani criticized these allegations as “unwarranted and misleading,” arguing that Thomas-Greenfield had strayed from the briefing’s agenda. He rejected the accusation and condemned what he described as “irresponsible behavior” by the U.S. representative.

Highlighting U.S. support for Israeli military actions in Gaza, which have resulted in nearly 40,000 Palestinian deaths since October 7, 2023, Iravani called it “ironic and shameful” that the U.S. accuses Iran of terrorism while fueling the conflict. He noted that the U.S. has supplied Israel with over 25,000 bombs and missiles since the onset of the war, contributing to the violence against Palestinians.

Iravani also criticized U.S. support for terrorist groups in the region, such as Daesh and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, emphasizing that this support underscores the U.S. role as a principal sponsor of terrorism. He concluded that the United States lacks the credibility to accuse other nations of terrorism or to lecture the UN.