This lesson studies U.S. Ambassador the United Nations Mike Waltz's "Remarks by US Ambassador at an Emergency UN Security Council Briefing on Iran", delivered in 2026. After this short context paragraph, the reading gives the speech itself so students can examine perspective, values, and contextual evidence in the speaker's own words.
Official statement delivered February 28, 2026 during the emergency session of the UN Security Council following the launch of Operation Epic Fury. Source usun.usmission.gov ( archived ). Related: Address by President Trump on Operation Epic Fury
Thank you. Distinguished delegates: this is a moment in history that requires moral clarity, and President Trump has met the moment.
Official statement delivered February 28, 2026 during the emergency session of the UN Security Council following the launch of Operation Epic Fury.
The most fundamental duty of any sovereign government is the protection of its people.
Operation Epic Fury is directed toward specific and strategic objectives: to dismantle missile capabilities that threaten allies, to degrade naval assets used to destabilize international waters, and to disrupt the machinery that arms proxy militias and to ensure the Iranian regime, never ever can threaten the world with a nuclear weapon.
As President Trump said last night, for decades, the Iranian regime has willfully destabilized the world. It has killed American forces and citizens, threatened regional allies, and jeopardized the security of international shipping upon which the world depends. Its massive support for violent proxies, declared terrorist organizations - the Houthis, Hizballah, Hamas, and others - has brought bloodshed and disorder across the Middle East for far too long. This is not speculation; we know this to be true and our men and women have paid for the actions of this regime and the IRGC with their lives.
No responsible nation can ignore persistent aggression and violence.
The regime in Tehran has led attacks that have cost American lives, hundreds of U.S. Marines in Lebanon, thousands of troops in Iraq; American hostage after hostage has suffered; our ships fired upon dozens of times in the Red Sea. Iran has armed and financed militant organizations that undermine lawful governments and destabilize an already fragile region.
Iran's continued pursuit of advanced missile capabilities, coupled with its refusal to abandon nuclear ambitions despite diplomatic opportunities, presents a grave and mounting danger. The international community has long affirmed a simple and necessary principle: Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. That principle is not a matter of politics; it is a matter of global security. And to that end, the United States is taking lawful actions.
This body, the United Nations Security Council, has acted repeatedly on this threat. Twenty years ago, starting in 2006, Resolution 1696 demanded that Iran suspend all uranium enrichment -related and reprocessing activities, invoking Chapter VII of the UN Charter and adopting a legally binding resolution. When Iran failed to comply, the Council, this Council, followed with Resolution 1737, imposing mandatory sanctions including bans on nuclear-related materials and technology, asset freezes on key individuals and entities linked to their nuclear program, and establishing a sanctions committee. Subsequent resolutions - 1747 in the year 2007, expanded arms embargoes and asset freezes; Resolution 1803 in 2008, tightened restrictions on dual-use goods and calling for inspections of Iranian cargo; Resolution 1835 in 2008, reaffirmed the need for full compliance; and Resolution 1929 in 2010, which was the most comprehensive, banning - ballistic missile activities, tightening the conventional arms embargo, targeting the IRGC and shipping lines, and prohibiting new Iranian banking relationships - built a robust multilateral framework to curb Iran's nuclear and missile pursuits. These measures, again, adopted under Chapter VII, represented the world's collective judgment that Iran's actions posed a threat to international peace and security.
And despite numerous opportunities for an alternative path, Iran remained defiant and the Security Council decided on September 19 of last year, 2025, to restore these measures, snapback sanctions, sending a clear message that the world will not acquiesce to threats and half-measures - and Tehran would be held to account.
On top of these actions by the UN, American diplomacy was attempted - repeatedly, and in good faith. President Trump, Secretary Rubio, our special envoys, Witkoff and Kushner, were relentlessly dedicated to diplomacy. But diplomacy cannot succeed where there is no genuine willingness to cease aggression, where there is no genuine partner for peace.
As President Trump said today, and he spoke directly to the Iranian people, he said, " To the proud great people of Iran, I saw tonight that the hour of your freedom is at hand." The entire world has witnessed the regime's wholesale slaughter of innocent civilians. The sad irony is that this same regime will attempt to lecture us today about human rights and the rule of law. Its presence here in this Council makes a mockery of this body.
But where the UN lacks moral clarity, the United States of America will maintain it.
Indiscriminate and unprovoked attacks by the Iranian regime today against our regional partners - Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and others - reinforce precisely why such actions are necessary. The regime has not only struck military assets but civilian infrastructure as well. Those who stand with us must know that their security is not negotiable. The safety of our allies is not conditional. It is assured. The bottom line is this, colleagues, our allies and partners can count on the United States and can count on President Trump.
Colleagues, peace is not preserved by appeasing those who threaten it. Peace is preserved through strength in the face of terror.
History has taught us that the cost of inaction is far greater than the burden of decisive action. And our President, President Trump, has taken that decisive action today.