US Tells UN ‘All Options Are on the Table’ Over Iran Tehran Says No Escalation
Washington and Tehran traded sharp words at an emergency UN Security Council meeting, with the US citing President Donald Trump’s warning over Iran’s crackdown on protesters and Iran insisting it seeks no confrontation.
US, Jan 16 : The United States and Iran clashed at an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Thursday, with Washington warning that “all options are on the table” in response to Iran’s crackdown on protesters, while Tehran insisted it wanted “neither escalation nor confrontation.”
Addressing the Council at a session convened at the US request, America’s Permanent Representative Mike Walz said the warning reflected President Donald Trump’s stance. “President Trump is a man of action,” Walz told the Council. “He has made it clear all options are on the table to stop the slaughter” of protesters.
Iran strongly pushed back against the warning. Deputy Permanent Representative Gholamhossein Darzi said Tehran was seeking to avoid confrontation but warned that any aggression would draw a firm response. “Any act of aggression, direct or indirect, will be met with a decisive, proportionate and lawful response,” he said.
The exchange followed a week of mixed signals from Washington. Earlier, Trump had said the US was considering strong measures against Iran, noting that “the military is looking at it.” A day later, he said Tehran had indicated it would halt the threatened executions of protesters a claim later confirmed by Iranian authorities.
Walz maintained pressure during the Council meeting, warning that Iran’s internal unrest could have wider regional consequences. He accused Tehran of professing willingness for dialogue while continuing repression. Iran rejected the accusation and accused Washington of inflaming unrest, a claim the US denied.
Briefing the Council, UN Assistant Secretary-General Martha Pobee described the situation in Iran as volatile but said protests appeared to be easing. She noted that demonstrations driven by inflation and the sharp fall of the rial had intensified last week before slowing.
Pobee also warned against external threats, saying public statements suggesting possible military action added volatility to an already unstable situation. She said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres remained deeply concerned over reports of excessive use of force and urged restraint to prevent further casualties.
Russia and China backed Iran during the meeting. China warned that any military action would deepen regional instability, while Russia accused the United States of using the Security Council to justify efforts to overthrow an “undesirable regime.”
