Iran files UN protest against four Arab states over use of their territory in attacks

Iran has strongly protested the use of the territory and airspace of the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait in recent US and Israeli attacks against the country, calling on the four Arab states to uphold good-neighborly relations and prevent any further use of their territory against Iran.

In separate letters to the United Nations Secretary-General and the Security Council on Tuesday, Iran’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Amir Saeid Iravani said under international law, states bear responsibility if their territory is made available for acts of aggression or armed attacks against a third country.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has expressed its strong and unequivocal protest against these unlawful actions,” Iravani wrote, adding that Iran “firmly calls on the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait to observe the principles of good-neighborliness and prevent the continued use of their territory against the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

In the letters, Iran stated that while it remains committed to the principle of good-neighborly relations and respect for the sovereignty of the four countries, it reserves the right to take “all necessary and appropriate measures,” including the exercise of its “inherent right of self-defense,” in order to protect its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence.

Tehran stated that the airspace and territory of the four countries were repeatedly used for the planning, preparation, support, and execution of military operations against Iran in March.

In its letter concerning the United Arab Emirates, Iran noted that US warplanes, drones, surveillance aircraft, and, in some cases, Emirati aircraft operated from or through Emirati airspace in attacks and intelligence missions targeting Iranian territory.

Tehran said these incidents demonstrated a continued pattern of unlawful use of Emirati territory and airspace in support of military action against Iran.

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In its letter concerning Saudi Arabia, Iran stated that US military aircraft used Saudi airspace and surrounding routes in the northern Persian Gulf and near the Kuwaiti border to conduct bombing missions against Iranian targets.

Iran said these operations included bombing missions, intelligence support, aerial refueling, and reconnaissance activities carried out through or over Saudi territory and airspace.

In its letter regarding Qatar, Iran said that Qatari airspace was used in a smaller but still significant number of operations involving US aircraft.

Iran said these actions constituted a violation of the principles of good-neighborliness and called on Doha to prevent any recurrence.

In its letter concerning Kuwait, Iran emphasized that Kuwaiti airspace was used by US military aircraft in several operations, including one involving a B-1 bomber that Tehran said originated from RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom and transited Iraq before entering Kuwaiti airspace.

Iran said the use of Kuwaiti airspace for such operations amounted to an unlawful act and urged Kuwait to prevent its territory from being used in any future attacks.

In all four letters, Iran requested that the correspondence be circulated as official documents of the UN Security Council.

Tehran described the issue as one of international legal responsibility, arguing that allowing a country’s land or airspace to be used for attacks on another state could amount to complicity in aggression.

While reiterating its stated commitment to regional relations and respect for sovereignty, Iran also made clear that it considers the actions serious enough to justify the preservation of its right to self-defense under international law.

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