ISTANBUL

Iran condemned the US military operation in Venezuela that led to the capture of President Nicolas Maduro as "state terrorism" and a violation of the UN Charter at an emergency Security Council session on Monday.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the military attack carried out by the United States of America against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela," Iran's permanent representative to the UN Amir Saeid Iravani said.

"This illegal act constitutes state terrorism, a manifest violation of Charter of the United Nations ... norms of the international law, and amounts to an internationally wrongful act and a full-fledged act of aggregation," the Iranian envoy said.

He said "military aggression" against a UN member state establishes a "serious breach" of peace and security with "far-reaching consequences."

Iran said the capture of Maduro and his wife is a "flagrant violation of customary international law" and "principles of the inviolability of the immunities accorded to the heads of state."

Iravani said the action represents a "grave assault on the sovereign equality of states," affirming Iran's full support for Venezuela's people and government.

Iran accused the US of seeking to substitute domestic law for international law and the UN Charter, warning this threatens the international community and all member states.

Iravani said the US policy of peace through strength "prescribed the law of the jungle and the rule of force instead of rule of law," warning it would render the UN's collective security system ineffective.

Iran criticized "continued inaction" by the UN Security Council in the face of US "threat and act of aggression," saying it has fostered a "dangerous climate of impunity."

The representative said US President Donald Trump had repeatedly issued public threats of force against Iran while claiming to support the Iranian people.

"Iran reaffirms its inherent right to defend society, territorial integrity and national security," the envoy said. "The United States of America will bear full responsibility for consequences arising from its unlawful threats."