New U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft speaks to reporters after attending her first UN Security Council meeting at U.N. headquarters in New York, US September 12, 2019. (Reuters: Mike Segar)

In a letter to the UN Security Council, Craft vowed to take additional action “as necessary” in the Middle East to protect US personnel and interests. She also said the US stands ready to engage without preconditions in serious negotiations with Iran, with the goal of preventing further endangerment of international peace and security or escalation by the Iranian regime.

Iran has rejected a US offer of talks “without preconditions” to de-escalate tensions between the two nations. Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Majid Takht Ravanchi, dismissed the offer of talks as “unbelievable” and ruled out any co-operation or talks while US President Donald Trump maintains sanctions on Iran. The Irna news agency reported that said Washington had "initiated a new series of escalation and animosity with Iran" by killing Quds force head Qassem Soleimani on January 3.