Iran filed a U.N. Security Council complaint after an Israeli official threatened to attack its nuclear facilities.
Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz, a former defense chief, told the daily Yediot Achronot on Friday that Israel would have no choice but to attack Iran given the failure of U.N. Security Council sanctions in curbing its nuclear program.
The comments contributed to a record 9 percent hike in the price of oil, though they were disavowed by Jerusalem.
Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Mohammad Khazaee, wrote to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon demanding a Security Council condemnation of Israel.
“Such a dangerous threat against a sovereign state and a member of the United Nations constitutes a manifest violation of international law and contravenes the most fundamental principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and, thus, requires a resolute and clear response on the part of the United Nations, particularly the Security Council,” Khazaee wrote.
Ban’s office had no immediate response.
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