Iran shares letter invoking Article 51 of UN Charter

Hours after Iran's mission to the United Nations announced on X that its retaliatory strikes were concluded, the mission shared a letter in which it stated its actions against Israel were within the parameters of Article 51 of the UN Charter, which deals with the right to self-defence.

"This action was in the exercise of Iran's inherent right to self-defense as outlined in Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, and in response to the Israeli recurring military aggressions."

Iran's attack on Israel comes in response to an air strike that targeted the Iranian consulate in Damascus and killed three top Iranian commanders. Israel did not publicly take credit for the air strike, however, four Israeli officials confirmed to the New York Times that Israel was behind the strikes.

Tehran also blamed the United Nations Security Council, saying that the council did not move to condemn the attack and work to de-escalate.

According to Article 51, "nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Nations".