by Amir Saeid Iravani 

During the Security Council meeting on June 4, 2025, US Representative Dorothy Shea vetoed draft resolution S/2025/353. She clarified her vote by stating: "We will not support any measure that does not condemn Hamas, call for its disarmament, and demand that this group leave Gaza."

Icategorically reject the unsubstantiated references and unequivocally condemn the unfounded allegations made against the Islamic Republic of Iran by the representative of the United States in her statement before the vote on the draft resolution concerning a ceasefire in Gaza delivered during the Security Council’s 9929th meeting, under the item entitled “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question”. These allegations are entirely unfounded, devoid of credibility or legal foundation.p

At a time when the Security Council must act with unity and urgency to end the unparalleled suffering of the Palestinian people, enduring relentless bombardment, forced displacement, famine and the systematic destruction of civilian infrastructure, it is regrettable and shameful that the United States has once again chosen to obstruct the Council from fulfilling its mandate and to divert attention through politically motivated accusations against others. This calculated deflection serves a single, cynical purpose: to shield the occupying and illegitimate Israeli regime from accountability for its ongoing and egregious violations of international law.

Even more egregiously, the United States’ veto of the draft resolution, proposed by the Council’s elected members and intended to establish an immediate, permanent and unconditional ceasefire, as well as to ensure unimpeded humanitarian access, represents a blatant dereliction and abuse of the responsibilities entrusted to the Security Council under the Charter of the United Nations. This is not an isolated incident, but rather a continuation of a deeply troubling pattern we have witnessed throughout the past 19 months of Israel’s genocidal war against the people of Gaza. By once again shielding the occupying regime from accountability, the United States has actively enabled the continuation of a catastrophic military campaign that has already killed tens of thousands of civilians, most of them women and children, and driven Gaza to the edge of absolute collapse.

The Islamic Republic of Iran’s principled position and support for the Palestinian people and their legitimate struggle and resistance against occupation are fully grounded in the Charter, international law and relevant United Nations resolutions, in particular numerous Security Council resolutions. Blaming others for the consequences of Israel’s unlawful and brutal campaign is nothing but a wilful distortion designed to absolve the Israeli regime of its crimes.

As many Council members rightly stated in their position during the meeting, failure to act decisively in the face of war crimes and the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza not only erodes the Council’s credibility but also paves the way for further atrocities against Palestinian people. The Security Council must uphold its Charter-based responsibilities and take immediate action to end the Israeli regime’s brutal aggression, lift the siege in Gaza, establish an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire, provide humanitarian access in large scale and put an end to the immense suffering of the Palestinian people. Selective approaches, double standards and political expediency must have no place in the face of mass atrocities

I should be grateful if you would circulate the present letter as a document of the Security Council.

Amir Saeid Iravani