During a patriotic Fourth of July celebration at the White House, President Donald Trump firmly dismissed the notion that Iran could persuade the United Nations to compel the U.S. to pay for damages resulting from recent joint U.S.-Israeli military strikes. Trump derided the request as "pretty ridiculous," underscoring his administration's stance on the matter.
The controversy stems from a letter sent by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres earlier in the week. Araghchi urged the U.N. to recognize the U.S. and Israel as aggressors in the 12-day Israel-Iran conflict and demanded compensation for the extensive damage inflicted upon Iranian facilities.
According to Araghchi, the military strikes had severely impacted hospitals, relief centers, and energy facilities, leading to accusations that the U.S. and Israel had breached international humanitarian law by targeting civilian infrastructure. The Daily Mail reported these claims, highlighting the gravity of the situation.
In response to Iran's allegations, the United States submitted a letter to the U.N. Security Council justifying the strikes as a necessary measure to dismantle Iran's nuclear enrichment capabilities and prevent the regime from acquiring nuclear weapons. The U.S. invoked Article 51 of the U.N. Charter, which allows member states to act in self-defense while obligating them to inform the Security Council immediately following such actions.
Despite the heated conflict, acting U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Dorothy Shea stated that the U.S. remains open to reaching an agreement with the Iranian government. The current tensions have escalated amid ongoing nuclear negotiations, with Iran retaliating by targeting U.S. and Israeli military and civilian sites during the war.
The conflict has its roots in the 2015 nuclear deal, which allowed Iran to enrich uranium up to 3.67% purity for civilian energy use. After President Trump withdrew from the agreement in 2018, Iran escalated its enrichment to 60%, a level that is below weapons-grade but significantly higher than what is needed for civilian purposes. Experts have expressed concerns that further enrichment could enable Iran to produce material for multiple nuclear weapons.
President Trump has been vocal in celebrating the strike executed by seven U.S. B-2 bombers, which dropped 14 Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs on Iran's Fordow and Natanz nuclear facilities. The administration has pushed back against media reports questioning the mission's success, particularly targeting CNN and journalist Natasha Bertrand for their coverage.
Trump called for Bertrand's dismissal, accusing her of dishonesty and incompetence in journalism, and branded CNN as a "Fake News" network responsible for spreading misinformation. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also criticized Bertrand, alleging that she was promoting false narratives against the President. In contrast, CNN stood by Bertrand and her reporting, defending the accuracy and public interest value of their work.
At a press conference, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth lauded the U.S. military forces and condemned what he described as biased leaks. President Trump echoed these sentiments, calling for media outlets to apologize to the military and acknowledge the success of the mission.
