Iran tells UN chief it will respond ‘decisively’ to US attack after Trump issues new ultimatum

Iran has told UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that Tehran will consider bases, facilities and assets of the “hostile force” in the region as legitimate targets if it faces military aggression.

US President Donald Trump’s rhetoric towards Iran “signals a real risk of military aggression,” Iran’s permanent mission to the United Nations said in the letter on Thursday, adding Iran did not want a war.

Iran will respond “decisively” if subjected to military aggression, the letter said.

Iran’s reaction came after Trump warned that Iran must make a “meaningful deal” in negotiations with Washington in the next 10 days or else “bad things happen”, as he deployed warships, fighter jets and other military hardware to the region.

“It’s proven to be over the years not easy to make a meaningful deal with Iran. We have to make a meaningful deal otherwise bad things happen,” Trump told the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace, his initiative to secure stability in Gaza.

He warned that Washington “may have to take it a step further” without any agreement, adding: “You’re going to be finding out over the next probably 10 days.”