Iran’s Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Ali Bahreini, has strongly criticized the United States for launching military strikes against Iran while diplomatic negotiations were still ongoing, describing the move as a “totally stupid decision” that undermined international peace efforts.
Speaking to UN correspondents in Geneva, Bahreini accused the United States of sabotaging diplomatic progress achieved during recent indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear programme. According to him, the attack not only disrupted dialogue but also disappointed Gulf nations that had actively supported peaceful negotiations.
The Iranian envoy maintained that Iran had no hostile intentions toward neighbouring countries but warned that Tehran would not tolerate US military bases in the Gulf region being used as operational platforms for attacks against Iran.
“War was not our option. War was imposed on Iran,” Bahreini stated, emphasizing that Iran reserves the right to defend itself against what it considers external aggression.
Diplomatic discussions between the United States and Iran reportedly took place on February 26 in Geneva, facilitated by mediation efforts led by Oman. Mediators had earlier described the talks as productive, noting significant progress and optimism toward continued negotiations scheduled to hold in Vienna.
However, Bahreini alleged that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu influenced US President Donald Trump to abandon diplomacy in favour of military action, leading to strikes that began over the weekend.
He further claimed that the decision represented a betrayal of regional partners who had invested diplomatic efforts to prevent escalation. According to the ambassador, several Gulf nations were disappointed by Washington’s actions after working toward peaceful engagement.
Addressing Iran’s retaliatory operations, Bahreini rejected the characterization of Tehran’s response as revenge, insisting that Iran’s military actions are strictly defensive in nature.
“What we are doing is self-defence,” he explained, adding that Iranian forces have been instructed to focus exclusively on US military targets while avoiding civilian casualties.
The ambassador reiterated that Iran’s dispute is not with neighbouring Gulf countries, describing them as allies and confirming that Tehran remains in constant communication with regional governments to prevent the conflict from expanding.
“This is not a regional war,” Bahreini stressed, noting that Iran’s concern lies solely with foreign military operations launched from US bases stationed within the region.
Meanwhile, President Trump recently claimed that Iranian leaders were seeking renewed dialogue. Bahreini, however, dismissed the assertion, stating that no contact had been initiated by Tehran since hostilities began.
The escalating tensions have raised fresh global concerns over stability in the Middle East, particularly as diplomatic channels appear strained following the breakdown of negotiations.
