Iranian ambassador to the UN Amir Saeid Iravani has asserted in a letter to the UN dated April 29 that Iran has the right to defend itself against what he called American piracy. According to the letter, US ship seizures undertaken under the Trump administration’s blockade of Iran “fall squarely within the definition of an act of aggression” under UN General Assembly Resolution 3314 of 1974, which defines aggression as the use of armed force by one state against another.
Such actions against vessels engaged in legitimate commercial activity also pose a direct threat to maritime safety and security, and escalate the volatile situation in the region, the ambassador underscored. “In substance and effect, such actions are identical to state-sponsored piracy and terrorism, carried out under the guise of domestic processes that have no standing under international law,” the letter added.
