Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has submitted an urgent letter to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and the Security Council exposing US President Donald Trump’s brazen threat to inflict "complete destruction and certain death" upon the Iranian people amid the joint US-Israeli military assault that began on February 28.

The letter lays bare Washington's responsibility for ongoing war crimes against the Islamic Republic and demands the message be circulated as an official UN document. Following is the full text of the letter

In the Name of God, the Most Compassionate,
I am writing to bring to your attention the most recent brazen threat by the President of the United States against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran and a clear confession as to the perpetration of war crimes against the Iranian nation. Amidst an imposed war of aggression against my country in defiance of the United Nation’s Charter and well-established fundamental principles of international law, in a new post on social media, the President of the United States has outrageously threatened that “… under serious consideration for complete destruction and certain death, ... are areas and groups of people that were not considered for targeting up until this moment in time”.

A criminal pledge for “complete destruction and certain death for areas and groups of people”, a crystal clear indication of the frustration of the United States for its failures, is given at a time when the world is witnessing military attacks of the United States and the Israeli regime against Iranian schools, hospitals, residential buildings, infrastructures, sport halls and relief facilities which have thus far claimed the lives of hundreds of innocent civilians including women and children. While Iran has exercised, and continues to exercise, its inherent right to self-defense under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter against this premeditated unjustified aggression, the horrendous war crimes and crimes against humanity of the agents of the aggressors have led to the martyrdom of more than 1300 civilians, and destruction of 9669 civilian objectives including 7943 residential homes, 1617 commercial and service centers, 32 medical and pharmaceutical centers, 65 schools and educational premises, 13 Red Crescent buildings and a number of energy supply infrastructure. The said post is therefore a clear admission of responsibility for the war crimes and crimes against humanity committed since 28 February 2026 in my country.

As a matter of fact, the United States has blatantly violated the prohibition of threat of force enshrined in Article 2 (4) of the UN Charter after the U.S. and Israeli regime’s continued breach of the jus cogens norm of “prohibition of aggression”; an aggression which commenced by a cowardly act of terrorism against the Highest Official of a sovereign member of the United Nations and several other State officials. Moreover, his threat for the destruction of groups of people is not only a manifestation of clear violation of the right to life but also paves the way for furthering inhumane attacks against civilians and their massacre.

While the exercise of the right of self-defense by the Islamic Republic of Iran continues until the Security Council fulfills its Charter-based responsibilities to maintain international peace and security, the above statement engages the international responsibility of the United States and the international criminal responsibility of the President of the United States. The United States is, as such, under an obligation to make full reparation for the injury caused by the ongoing violations against Iran and its citizens, including any damage incurred. Furthermore, the individual criminal responsibility of the President of the United States and any other U.S. officials and individuals involved in grave breaches of international humanitarian law, including for directing deliberate attacks against civilians and launching willful attacks against civilian objects, is beyond doubt.

The Islamic Republic of Iran solemnly urges the United Nations Secretary-General and the Security Council to take appropriate measures, in line with their responsibility with respect to maintenance of international peace and security, with a view to ceasing the ongoing war crimes and to further ensuring accountability of the United States and its President, to end the culture of impunity and prevent further normalization of violations of international law.

I would be grateful if you would have the present letter circulated as an official document of the Security Council.

Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.