Iran says it has submitted a formal complaint to the UN Security Council over comments by US President Donald Trump suggesting an ultimatum for Tehran between a military strike or reaching a new deal, saying it violates international law and the UN Charter.
Iran’s deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, said the complaint had been registered as an official UN document.
He did not specify which comments were included but shared an image of a translated excerpt from Trump's remarks in his post announcing the action on X on Monday.
The US president told The New York Post on Saturday, “I would like a deal done with Iran on non-nuclear. I would prefer that to bombing the hell out of it. . . . They don’t want to die. Nobody wants to die. If we made the deal, Israel wouldn’t bomb them,” Trump added.
After coming to office in January for his second term, he had said that reports the United States and Israel would work together on a devastating military attack on Iran were overblown.
In Tehran, recent speeches and statements reveal Iranian officials are on edge over the intensifying war of words between US President Donald Trump and Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
As Iran’s financial and economic situation deteriorates following Trump’s decision to intensify sanctions, officials seem increasingly worried about potential unrest.
In less than a week, the rial has lost nearly 10 percent of its value.
Statements from Vice President Mohammad-Reza Aref and several military commanders reflect growing anxiety.
“Those with ill intentions might be sowing discord between the people and the government of Iran,” Aref warned, urging the government to start listening to the public.
As night fell on February 9, the eve of the 1979 Revolution’s anniversary, chants of “Death to the Islamic Republic” and “Death to Khamenei” echoed through Tehran and other cities, as people took advantage of the darkness and fireworks.
The slogans echoed the same demands Iranians voices during the nationwide 2022 anti-state protests, underscoring ongoing public dissent in the country.
On February 10, the Entekhab website published a lengthy statement from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard (IRGC), warning against "dangerous bi-polar situations" that could arise as some officials continue advocating for negotiations with the US to address the country’s economic crisis.
Meanwhile, the IRGC boasted that Iran has become a global power striving to establish an Islamic civilization. It warned state officials to be wary of “the cognitive war waged by enemies to undermine Iran’s international standing.” The statement also accused Trump of exaggerating his disputes with the Islamic Republic and making excessive demands to influence potential negotiations.
Calling the US "a terrorist regime," the IRGC warned that, following Khamenei's guidance, Iran would deliver a harsh response to any American miscalculation.
Recent tensions and exchanges between Tehran and Washington seem to have also shifted President Masoud Pezeshkian's rhetoric, aligning it more closely with Khamenei’s hardline stance.
Pezeshkian, who had previously advocated for dialogue with the United States, escalated his tone on Monday, saying, "Trump first threatens Iran's existence and then calls for talks with Tehran. Trump wants to deprive Iran of medicine, food, and water." Pezeshkian’s claims resembled statements by hardliner media accusing Trump of making outrageous demands.
On the same day, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf intensified what appeared to be a disinformation campaign against Trump by misrepresenting the contents of his recent executive memorandum on tougher sanctions. "Trump wants to disarm Iran," he said.
Several officials and politicians falsely claimed that Trump intends to hand over the three disputed Persian Gulf islands to the United Arab Emirates.
Former Iranian diplomat Kourosh Ahmadi, meanwhile, criticized the spread of misinformation about Trump’s executive memorandum.
“A wave of sheer lies is being spread about the contents of Trump’s executive memorandum. One such falsehood was promoted by Mr. Ghalibaf. Unfortunately, even some well-informed individuals have been misled into believing that Trump signed a document on disarming Iran,” Jamaran News quoted him as saying.
Iran is terrified after losing almost all its air defenses and now would love to make a deal with the United States, Donald Trump said on Monday, adding that he would also prefer a deal with Tehran to an Israeli attack on their nuclear sites.
"Iran is very concerned. Iran is very frightened, to be honest with you, because their defense is pretty much gone," Trump told Fox News.
He was apparently referring to Israel's October attacks on Iran which, according to US officials, knocked out the country's last three Russian-provided S-300 air defense missile systems.
"Maybe they are trying to get new defense as we speak but their defense is largely gone... Iran is very nervous. I think they're scared. I think Iran would love to make a deal and I would love to make a deal with them without bombing them," Trump added.
Israeli officials have repeatedly raised the possibility of military action against Iran’s nuclear program, but Trump has insisted that he hopes a deal over Iran's nuclear program would make it so that the United States did not have to support an Israeli attack on Iran.
"Everybody thinks Israel with our help or our approval will go in and bomb the hell out of them," Trump said Monday, stressing that Israel would need the US support for such a strike.
"I would prefer that not happen. I'd much rather see a deal with Iran where we can do a deal, supervise, check it, inspect it."
Earlier he had said that any reports the United States and Israel would work together on a devastating military attack on Iran were overblown.
"I want Iran to be a great and successful Country, but one that cannot have a Nuclear Weapon. Reports that the United States, working in conjunction with Israel, is going to blow Iran into smithereens,” ARE GREATLY EXAGGERATED," Trump said on February 5.
'Iran is very militant'
Trump has long opposed foreign wars but has adopted a hard line on Iran, beefing up sanctions on its oil exports in his first term and pulling out of an international deal on Tehran's disputed nuclear program, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
"That was the dumbest" deal, Trump said. "And by the way, that would have expired by now. That was a road to a nuclear weapon. It was a short-term deal. You can't make a deal with just a few years on it."
Trump was referring to the so-called sunset clauses of the 2015 nuclear deal which, according to him, would enable Iran to pursue nuclear weapons in the future.
"They would have a legal right to have a nuclear weapon. You cannot allow Iran or just about anybody else by the way but especially Iran because they are very, very militant. You can't allow them to have a nuclear weapon," he told Fox News.
Trump said there are two ways to stop Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon: "With bombs or with a written piece of paper. And I'd much rather do a deal that's not going to hurt them. And I think they want it too."
Iran has denied seeking a nuclear weapon, but Israel has long contended that a bomb in the hands of its arch-enemy poses an existential threat.
Several Iranian state media outlets are reporting false information that Donald Trump imposed outlandish preconditions for talks with Tehran, in what analysts call a coordinated campaign to justify Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's rejection of talks with the US.
Iranian news site Khabar Fori cited a report it falsely attributed to The Wall Street Journal on Monday saying one of President Trump’s conditions for negotiating with Iran was the "transfer of three Iranian islands to the United Arab Emirates."
The control of the islands is a deeply felt issue for many Iranians across the political spectrum.
Hours later, other Iranian media outlets reported that the American newspaper had not published any such report.
At the same time, an article in Arman-e Melli newspaper and Nameh News listed seven alleged conditions, including "US oversight of all of Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities."
The report also said that, according to these conditions, all American and European prisoners "must be released unconditionally," and that Iran must "dismantle or place under full US supervision" all space technology and satellite research centers.
None of the alleged conditions appear in President Trump's official executive order on Iran, or in his public remarks on potential negotiations.
According to Iran International's in-house analysts, the disinformation campaign—emerging amid sharply rising prices and an unprecedented decline in the national currency rial—appears designed to shape public opinion, justify the Supreme Leader’s decision and mitigate public resentment toward him.
Trump ramps up pressure, Khamenei rejects talks
On February 5, Trump signed a presidential directive to resume his "maximum pressure" policy against the Islamic Republic, with the aim of preventing Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons, countering its malign influence in the region by reducing its oil exports to zero.
Khamenei expressed opposition to negotiating with the US, saying such talks "have no impact on solving the country’s problems".
"Negotiating would not be wise, intelligent or honorable," added Khamenei, who is the ultimate decision-makers on all matters of state.
A day later, Trump expressed hope about reaching a deal with the Islamic Republic, saying that such a deal would forestall an Israeli attack on Iran.
Khamenei's categorical rejection of negotiations drew skepticism from some pro-government social media users and a few officials within the Islamic Republic.
Telegram channel Seda-ye Hashemi, which is said to be affiliated with associates of former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, published an editorial titled "Foreign Policy or Historical Stubbornness?", criticizing Khamenei’s reference to past nuclear negotiations.
"National interests should be defined based on realities, not historical and political prejudices," the author of the editorial wrote.
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, however, addressed the matter, saying, "My expectation and demand from the president is that he and his colleagues in the government implement the Supreme Leader’s directive."
Tehran aligns with Supreme Leader on US talks
On Monday, during state-led celebrations marking the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, several officials commented on Trump’s threats and the issue of negotiations.
In a speech, President Masoud Pezeshkian said, "Trump says, ‘Let’s negotiate,’ but signs every possible conspiracy against Iran and then claims he is ready for talks." Earlier, Pezeshkian said, "Our enemies think that if they besiege us, we will die of hunger," aligning with Khamenei’s stance against negotiations.
The country’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, also referred to "America’s betrayal in the JCPOA," saying, "We do not trust negotiations and will never negotiate under pressure and coercion." A similar narrative came from Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh, who said, "We will not negotiate under conditions of threats and sanctions."
On the other hand, Mahmoud Vaezi, former chief of staff to President Hassan Rouhani and deputy head of the Moderation and Development Party, suggested that Khamenei’s remarks do not rule out negotiations entirely but are specifically directed at the current circumstances under Trump.
Mostafa Pourmohammadi, secretary-general of the Combatant Clergy Association, echoed this view, saying that based on Khamenei’s position, negotiations should take place "at the right time, from a position of power and dignity."
Trump's remarks on Iran further inflamed currency and gold markets, driving dramatic price surges amid an already strained economy. In response, some officials stressed the need to "clarify" the Supreme Leader’s stance against negotiations with the US.
Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, head of the Coalition Council of Revolutionary Forces, said, "The Supreme Leader provides reasoning for his position, and those who support negotiations with Trump should also present their arguments." He acknowledged the "negative reactions of some on social media" to Khamenei’s remarks, attributing them to economic hardships and the pressure on vulnerable groups, but insisted that negotiations would not resolve these problems.
Despite some of Tehran's efforts to justify Khamenei’s decision and spread disinformation about Trump’s alleged preconditions for talks, many among the wider public continue to blame the Supreme Leader and state officials for Iran’s economic and social crises.
On the eve of the 46th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, citizens in various Iranian cities chanted slogans against the Islamic Republic, including "Death to the Dictator" and "Death to Khamenei."
A hardline newspaper in Iran has warned of potential protests and unrest across the country amid a confluence of political tensions over US talks and devaluation of the national currency, criticizing the administration’s handling of the crises.
Javan newspaper, affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), cited an unnamed advisor to former president Hassan Rouhani as saying on Sunday that "If the president does not bring the negotiations to fruition, he should give up and leave the presidential office before the winter snow falls in Tehran."
The article by Javan said that such a sentiment about the administration of President Masoud Pezeshkian resonates with both supporters and critics of the government.
"This idea is gaining traction not only among government loyalists but also among its opponents," Javan said, noting that some newly emerged “suspicious” political factions, particularly those that surfaced after the recent elections, appear to be maneuvering to render Pezeshkian ineffective—blocking negotiations and steering him toward a scenario where he either resigns voluntarily or faces a turbulent path toward impeachment in parliament.
"This push for the president's removal is like the two blades of a scissor, cutting deeper into the political landscape and driving the country toward a major crisis before the year’s end."
Javan claimed that, according to enemy intelligence services, growing public discontent fueled by government inefficiency, rising poverty, and inequality could trigger protests in Iran, potentially leading to unrest similar to the events of November 2019.
In 2019, a wave of nationwide protests in Iran, known as Bloody November, erupted following a fuel price hike. What began as economic grievances quickly escalated into demands for the overthrow of the government and Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. According to various sources, security forces killed at least 1,500 protesters between November 15 and 17.
The Pezeshkian administration is caught between opposing pressures. While urged to ease US sanctions, it faces a firm ban on talks with Washington imposed by the Supreme Leader on Friday.
Since Khamenei’s rejection, Iran’s currency, the rial, has been in freefall, hitting a record low of 915,000 per US dollar on Sunday.
“Negotiating with such a government should not be done; it is neither wise, intelligent nor honorable,” said the 85-year-old cleric during a meeting with air force personnel in Tehran.“No problem will be solved through negotiations with the United States,” he added.
Also on Sunday, Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, a member of the Expediency Discernment Council and a close aide to Khamenei, said, “Those who support negotiations with Trump should clarify what they are willing to offer in a deal to persuade him to lift the sanctions.”
He added, “Mr. Khamenei presents arguments for his stance; those in favor of negotiating with Trump should also provide their reasoning.”
Sociologist Taghi Azad Armaki, in an interview with Etemad newspaper, also warned of potential protests, citing "high prices, the rising dollar rate, high rents, health problems, emigration, and absolute poverty" as key pressures on the population.
"These issues remain unresolved," he warned, "and if not addressed, will soon manifest as widespread protests." He criticized “extremist groups” opposed to negotiations for undermining the administration, stating that they must be controlled and act in the interests of the ruling establishment.
Referring to hardliners, Armaki added, "If extremism is not curbed in the current situation, it will continue to take the form of a widespread wave and will harm the entire system. Social crises should not be allowed to turn into security crises."
Prominent commentator Ahmad Zeidabadi also criticized Friday prayer leaders, accusing them of delivering contradictory and confusing messages.
During Friday prayers, chants opposing negotiations with the US and their supporters—including Vice President for Strategic Affairs Javad Zarif—echoed as Khamenei's representatives, the Friday prayer imams, denounced the idea.
Zeidabadi also condemned the attempts of hardliners who say there is no need for talks with the US because it would not solve Iran's financial crisis. "They routinely blame America for all of the country's cultural, social, and political problems," Zeidabadi wrote, "even though the US neither claims nor has the ability to create them. Yet, when it comes to economic issues, they attribute nearly all problems to internal mismanagement while dismissing the impact of America's extensive sanctions. The contradictions have become deafening."
Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization announced plans to construct a yellowcake production facility capable of producing 20 tons annually.
The announcement follows the commencement of radioactive materials extraction at a complex in Yazd province.
“Today, the extraction and operation of radioactive materials and accompanying elements in the Anomaly 10 area began,” said Javad Ahmadi, the deputy head of the Atomic Energy Organization.
“Last September, we carried out the exploration of this area, and now we have reached the stage of extracting radioactive materials and accompanying elements from this mine.”
Yellowcake, a processed uranium ore, is a key material for nuclear power plants, which Iran claims is its focus, though concerns remain over its potential use in atomic weapons. The West has expressed fears that Iran’s ultimate aim may involve weapons-grade enrichment.
Ahmadi also mentioned the project’s scope, saying that it involves approximately 40 million tons of radioactive materials, iron ore, and other elements.
“We have also planned to establish a yellowcake production plant with an annual capacity of 20 tons.”
Last year, the head of the UN's nuclear watchdog said that Iran is "weeks not months" away from a nuclear weapon.
In spite of a November resolution by the International Atomic Energy Agency's Board of Governors censuring Iran for its lack of cooperation, Iran has continued to forge ahead with its enrichment towards weapons level uranium.
The deputy head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, Behrouz Kamalvandi, said at the time: "We will significantly increase enrichment capacity ... The Westerners are trying to push our nuclear industry backward through pressure tactics."
The latest developments come as President Donald Trump looks to bring Iran back to the negotiating table. During his first term, the US withdrew from the 2015 nuclear accord, a deal that restricted Iran’s uranium enrichment to 3.67 percent—well below the 90 percent required for weapons—while capping its stockpile at 300 kilograms.
Further expanding its nuclear initiatives, Iran on Saturday launched production of Iridium Hexafluoride (IR46) at the Shahid Raeisi Nuclear Site in Isfahan. State media claims the material has medical and industrial uses and opens new export opportunities for Iran.
While President Donald Trump’s new administration has indicated openness to renegotiations, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has dismissed the prospect, calling dialogue with the US dishonorable.
Trump has clearly announced that the Islamic Republic must not have nuclear weapons while countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany and France (the E3) continue to push for measures to prevent Iran's nuclear progress.
Iran insists its nuclear program is strictly for peaceful purposes, though its growing capabilities are likely to draw increased international scrutiny.