[JURIST] Iran [JURIST news archive] Monday denounced what it called US 'threats' of possible military action against it in connection with its development of nuclear technology as illegal and urged UN action. Iranian ambassador to the UN Javad Zarif [official profile] said in a letter to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan that "US dailies are publishing stories about possibility of aggression on Iran and whether the US would use nuclear arms against Iran and the US officials do not reject such stories." Citing an April 18 Bush press conference statement that "All options are on the table," Zarif said such statements violate international law and jeopardized the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) [PDF text]. Zarif cited alleged past violations of international law by the US as contributing factors to the urgency of his request. Iran insists on the legality of its own actions [JURIST report] under the NPT; it claims to be enriching uranium to provide energy for civilian power plants.

A March UN Security Council statement [JURIST report] demanded that Iran immediately suspend its uranium enrichment program, pending an International Atomic Energy Agency report in 30 days. The Director-General of the IAEA reported [JURIST report] Friday that Iran had nonetheless continued enriching uranium. AP has more; IRNA has local coverage.