Iran warned that U.S. bases, facilities, and assets would be “legitimate targets” if the United States follows through on its military threats and attacks, writes The Hindu.

Amir Saeid Iravani, the Iranian ambassador to the United Nations, made the remarks in a letter to U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres and the president of the Security Council that was seen by AFP.

President Donald Trump has deployed warships, fighter jets, and other military hardware to the Middle East as he seeks to block Iran from building a nuclear bomb, something Tehran says it is not pursuing.

The letter cited a social media post by Mr. Trump on February 18, where he said the United States may need to use U.K. military bases, including one on an Indian Ocean island, “should Iran decide not to make a deal”.

“Such a belligerent statement by the President of the United States signals a real risk of military aggression, the consequences of which would be catastrophic for the region and would constitute a grave threat to international peace and security”, Mr. Iravani wrote in the letter. He called for the Security Council - the U.N.’s top decision-making body, where Washington has veto power - to “ensure that the United States immediately ceases its unlawful threats of the use of force”.

The letter said Iran remains committed “to diplomatic solutions” and “on a reciprocal basis, addressing ambiguities regarding its peaceful nuclear programme”.

But Mr. Iravani warned if Iran faced military aggression, “all bases, facilities, and assets of the hostile force in the region would constitute legitimate targets in the context of Iran"s defensive response”.