New Delhi, Jan. 16 -- After weeks of mounting tension, the United States and Iran confronted one another on Thursday at an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, as Washington issued renewed warnings to Tehran over its violent suppression of nationwide protests. The confrontation unfolded even as US President Donald Trump signalled tentative efforts to de-escalate the crisis between the two long-standing adversaries.

Speaking at the council, US ambassador Mike Waltz delivered a stark message, accusing Iran's leadership of overseeing a brutal crackdown that activists say has killed at least 2,637 people.

"Colleagues, let me be clear: President Trump is a man of action, not endless talk like we see at the United Nations...