Iran sent a formal complaint to the United Nations Security Council on June 28, 2026, saying the United States has repeatedly violated its territory. The letter also revealed that Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei had been "marked for death," according to a report by IRNA IRNA. The letter mentioned a second US air strike and described it as part of a growing pattern of American military action against Iran.

The UN Security Council is a group of 15 countries at the United Nations that can make decisions about war and peace, including imposing sanctions. Sanctions are penalties meant to pressure a country into changing its behavior without using military force. By sending a formal letter to the Security Council, Iran is using its most direct diplomatic channel to complain about how the war is being fought. Writing down specific strikes and the reported threat to Khamenei's life in an official UN document creates a record Iran can use later in diplomatic or legal proceedings. Reuters separately reported on July 1 that Iran warned of an immediate response to any threat and cited the "marked for death" label for the supreme leader Reuters.

The current crisis started on February 28, 2026, when US and Israeli strikes killed Iran's previous Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, which led Iran to strike back Reuters. Iran then named Khamenei's son, Mojtaba, as the new supreme leader on March 14, 2026 Reuters. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in an interview that the transition went smoothly Reuters.

The war itself began even earlier, on June 13, when Israel launched attacks that Araghchi called "unlawful and criminal operations" during a speech at the UN Human Rights Council Iranian MFA. Araghchi described the conflict as a war "imposed on Iran" in that same speech.

Throughout the crisis, Iran has combined military warnings with diplomatic outreach. Araghchi posted on X about a Supreme National Security Council statement saying that if attacks on Iran stopped, Iran's military would stop its defensive operations Iranian MFA. On April 26, 2026, Araghchi discussed efforts to end the war and the security of the Strait of Hormuz with Oman Reuters. The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman through which about a fifth of the world's oil passes. If fighting disrupted that shipping lane, oil prices could rise worldwide. Araghchi also contacted UN Secretary-General António Guterres about an attack on nuclear facilities Iranian MFA.

By July, Araghchi said that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, having started the war against Iran, "soon had to plead with the President" Iranian MFA. Araghchi also spoke at the 61st session of the Human Rights Council on April 2, 2026 Iranian MFA. On July 9, Araghchi issued a message thanking the Iranian people Iranian MFA.

The letter to the Security Council touches on several pressure points at once. The mention of a second US air strike shows these military exchanges are not one-time events. The "marked for death" language about Mojtaba Khamenei echoes what happened to his father, who was killed in the February strikes. It signals that Iran believes the new supreme leader faces a direct threat from the US-Israeli campaign. Iran's warning of an "immediate response to any threat" shows the complaint is not just a diplomatic gesture but is paired with a readiness to act militarily.

The broader context here is a conflict that has already killed one supreme leader, installed his son as a replacement, and produced multiple rounds of retaliation over about five months. Iran's diplomatic efforts, running through the UN Security Council, the Human Rights Council, direct talks with Oman, and communication with the UN Secretary-General, are happening alongside continued military warnings. The Strait of Hormuz discussions with Oman show that Iran recognizes the war's economic effects, especially through oil shipping routes, give neighboring countries a reason to want the fighting to stop.

Whether the Security Council will take up Iran's complaint in any meaningful way is uncertain. The Council's permanent members include the United States and other countries that have participated in or supported the strikes, which makes formal action unlikely. But the letter's value for Iran may lie less in getting an immediate Council response and more in creating a documented record of grievances, assigning responsibility, and shaping the story for countries in the developing world. Araghchi's work across multiple UN bodies, his outreach to Oman on Hormuz, and his public portrayal of the war as forced on Iran all support that strategy.