Iran urges UN to launch talks over ‘alarming’ Gulf tensions
Al JazeeraIn letter to UN chief, Iran’s ambassador calls for talks between Tehran and Gulf countries to ease rising tensions. A day later, Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif denounced Trump’s “genocidal taunts” and urged the US to address the Islamic Republic with respect and not threats of war. In Monday’s letter, Ravanchi warned that “the eruption of any possible conflict will soon cross over from the regional level and will definitely have serious and extensive implications on international peace and security.” The ambassador added that Iran “will never choose war,” but that “if war is imposed on us, Iran will vigorously exercise its inherent right to self-defence”. “Iran is saying this forum is something Guterres could convene very easily … Iran is trying to show here that it’s the reasonable one.” Rising rhetoric Earlier on Monday, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric voiced concern over the rising rhetoric between Washington and Tehran and urged both sides to dial down their remarks.