Sharp exchanges erupted at the UN Security Council as the United States and Iran traded accusations over Tehran’s deadly crackdown on protesters, with President Donald Trump warning that military options remain under consideration.

Addressing the Security Council, US Ambassador Mike Waltz said Washington stands by the “brave people of Iran” amid reports that thousands have been killed during protests against clerical rule.

He said President Trump had made it clear that “all options are on the table to stop the slaughter,” stressing that the US leader is “a man of action, not endless talk.”

Trump adopts wait-and-see posture

Despite repeated threats of intervention, Trump struck a more cautious tone on Thursday. He said he had received information suggesting the killings were easing and that there was no current plan for large-scale executions.

Waltz said the Security Council meeting was convened at Washington’s request to highlight the situation and hold Iran accountable.

US dismisses claims of foreign conspiracy

The US envoy rejected Iranian allegations that the protests were a foreign-backed plot designed to justify military action. Waltz said the Iranian government was spreading falsehoods because it feared its own people.

“The regime is weaker than ever before,” he told the council, adding that the protests reflected the power of Iranians demanding change in the streets.

Iran warns of decisive response

Iran’s Deputy UN Ambassador Gholamhossein Darzi said Tehran does not seek escalation or confrontation. However, he warned that any act of aggression would be met with a “decisive, proportionate, and lawful response.”

He accused the US of lies, distortion of facts and deliberate misinformation to conceal what he described as Washington’s role in steering unrest toward violence.

Darzi said the use or threat of force against Iran would violate international law and the UN Charter, including Article 2(4). He stressed that no unilateral military action is justified without explicit Security Council authorization.

“Justifying force in the name of humanitarianism is an abuse of law,” he said, adding that the party initiating illegal actions would bear responsibility for all consequences.

Russia accuses US of interference

Russia’s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzya accused the United States of using the Security Council to justify “blatant aggression” and interference in Iran’s internal affairs.

He warned Washington against trying to solve the “Iranian problem” through strikes aimed at overthrowing an undesirable government and urged US leaders to avoid repeating what he called the tragedy of June 2025.

China warns against military adventures

China’s envoy cautioned that power politics and military solutions would only worsen the crisis. He said any military adventure would push the region into a “deeper abyss.”

China urged the US to abide by the UN Charter, refrain from the use of force, and pursue diplomacy, offering Beijing’s assistance to help resolve the crisis peacefully.

Pakistan opposes use of force

Pakistan strongly rejected the use of force against Iran. Pakistan’s future UN envoy Asim Iftikhar said external intervention violated the UN Charter and international law.

He urged the United States to “wake up,” avoid escalation, and refrain from repeating past regional tragedies.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, through senior official Martha Pobee, called for maximum restraint at this sensitive moment. She urged all parties to avoid actions that could lead to further loss of life or ignite wider regional escalation.

Denmark urges Iran to listen to its people

Denmark’s UN Ambassador Christina Markus Lassen said the world was repeatedly hearing Iranians call for a better life. She urged Tehran’s leadership to finally listen to its people and respond through peaceful means, saying the time for action had come.

The turbulent meeting underscored deep divisions within the Security Council. While the US insisted it had a responsibility to support the Iranian people, Iran and several member states warned that threats of force would only deepen the crisis.

As tensions remain high, diplomats said the debate highlighted the risk that the standoff could escalate beyond Iran’s borders if restraint is not exercised.