Iran Condemns U.S. Strike on Nuclear Facilities, Threatens Retaliation
Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi calls attack 'unprecedented violation' of international law during Istanbul press conference
Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi delivered a scathing condemnation of U.S. military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities Sunday, calling the attack an "outrageous, grave, and unprecedented violation" of international law and threatening retaliation through "all means necessary."
Speaking at a press conference in Istanbul approximately nine hours after the strikes occurred, Araghchi said Iran reserves "all options to defend its security interests and people" under UN Charter provisions allowing legitimate self-defense responses.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran condemns, in the strongest terms, the United States' brutal military aggression against Iran's peaceful nuclear facilities," Araghchi said. "The warmongering and lawless administration in Washington is solely and fully responsible for the dangerous consequences and far-reaching implications of its act of aggression."
The strikes represent a dramatic escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran, occurring during what Iranian officials described as active diplomatic negotiations. Araghchi said he had traveled to Istanbul from Geneva, where ministerial meetings between Iran and European nations had taken place just two days earlier.
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Attack During Diplomatic Talks
The timing of the U.S. action drew particular criticism from Iranian officials, who said the strikes occurred while diplomatic channels remained active. Araghchi said Iran was "in the middle of talks with the United States when Israelis blew it up" and was again "in the middle of talks and negotiation with Europeans, happened only two days ago in Geneva, when this time Americans decided to blow it up."
"So we were in diplomacy, but we were attacked militarily," he said. "It was not Iran but the U.S. who betrayed diplomacy."
Araghchi accused the Trump administration of betraying campaign promises to end American involvement in Middle Eastern conflicts. "While President Trump was elected on a platform of putting an end to America's costly involvement of forever wars in our part of the world, he has betrayed not only Iran by abusing our commitment to diplomacy, but also deceived his own voters," he said.
Iran characterized the strikes as coordinated with Israel, describing the action as "carried out in collusion with the genocidal Israeli regime." Araghchi suggested the U.S. attack was designed to support Israeli objectives in the region.
International Law Violations Alleged
Iranian officials outlined multiple alleged violations of international law, specifically citing breaches of the UN Charter's prohibition on the use of force under Article 2, Paragraph 4, and violations of UN Security Council Resolution 2231. Araghchi said the attack constituted "a devastating blow" to the global non-proliferation regime.
"It cannot be emphasized enough how much of a devastating blow that the US, a permanent member of the Security Council, has dealt to the global non-proliferation regime," he said.
Iran called for emergency sessions of the UN Security Council and the International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors to address what it described as criminal aggression. Araghchi said all targeted facilities had been under full IAEA safeguards and monitoring.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran calls on the Security Council to convene an emergency session to unequivocally condemn the criminal act of aggression by the United States against Iran and to hold the administration in Washington accountable for its violations of fundamental principles of United Nations Charter and of norms of international law," he said.
Damage Assessment Ongoing
Araghchi said he remained in contact with Tehran but did not have "exact information about the level of damages" from the strikes. However, he emphasized that the extent of physical damage was less significant than the broader implications for international law.
"I don't think it matters how much damages have been made," he said. "Attacking a nuclear facility by itself is an unforgivable violation of international law and should be condemned."
Iranian officials described the damage as extending beyond physical infrastructure to fundamental principles of international governance. "The damages are not only for our nuclear facilities," Araghchi said. "The damages are for the United Nations Charter. It was not only Iran's facilities which was bombed. It was also the United Nations Charter."
Regional Response and Mediation Efforts
Araghchi said he had held discussions with regional foreign ministers about diplomatic initiatives before the U.S. strikes occurred. He described widespread concern among regional partners about potential escalation and noted several countries had expressed interest in mediation roles.
"Almost all of them are very much concerned and interested to pay a role to end this aggression by Israel," he said, referring to discussions held before the U.S. action. "They were worried about a possible attack by the United States, but yesterday we were all talking about how to stop the Israeli aggression."
Turkey emerged as a potential mediator, with Araghchi confirming productive meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "Some of the countries of the region, such as Turkey, are indicating that they could be mediating so that the attacks from Israel could stop," he said.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation held a special meeting on the Iranian situation, with Turkey chairing the session. Member countries issued a statement condemning the attacks and expressing solidarity with Iran.
Nuclear Program Defense
Iran defended its nuclear program as entirely peaceful, noting more than 20 years of efforts to demonstrate compliance with non-proliferation commitments. Araghchi referenced the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), describing it as "an achievement of diplomacy" that was celebrated globally before the U.S. withdrawal.
"We do not understand why Iran should be attacked for a false accusation that Iran is seeking nuclear weapons," he said. "It's now more than 20 years that we are trying to prove that our peaceful nuclear program is, in fact, peaceful and would remain peaceful."
Araghchi questioned the effectiveness of the Non-Proliferation Treaty in protecting non-nuclear states, noting that "NPT is not able to protect us" despite Iran's status as a committed member.
Future Diplomatic Prospects Uncertain
When asked about prospects for renewed negotiations, Araghchi expressed skepticism about diplomatic solutions while emphasizing Iran's defensive posture. "Well, of course, the door for diplomacy should be always open, keep open, but this is not the case right now," he said. "My country has been under attack, under aggression, and we have to respond based on our legitimate drive of self-defense."
Araghchi said Iran would "decide" on future diplomatic engagement after assessing the full scope of damages and implications. "I don't know how much room is left for diplomacy," he said. "We are now calculating the damages."
U.S. Threats and Iranian Response
Responding to reported threats from President Trump of additional attacks if Iran does not "make peace," Araghchi said international institutions rather than Iran should address such statements. "I think it's not up to Iran to respond to that," he said. "The whole international community should respond of such a clear threat against the United Nations Charter."
Araghchi emphasized Iranian unity in response to the attacks, saying the Iranian people "are now fully understand what injustice they are doing against the Iranian people. They are united and in solidarity with the government."
Russian Consultations Planned
Araghchi announced plans to travel to Moscow for meetings with President Vladimir Putin, describing Russia as a strategic partner in addressing the crisis. "Russia is a friend of Iran, and we enjoy a strategic partnership," he said. "We always consult with each other and coordinate our positions."
As a permanent Security Council member and JCPOA participant, Russia has been briefed on Iranian diplomatic efforts in recent months. "We always briefed our Russian friends about the latest, about any progress or lack of progress in our talks," Araghchi said.
He noted that Russia and China had been working to introduce Security Council resolutions calling for cessation of hostilities, though "now the situation has been changed" following the U.S. strikes.
International Law and Security Implications
Iranian officials framed the U.S. action as fundamentally undermining international security architecture. "Silence in the face of such blatant aggression will plunge the world into an unprecedented level of danger and chaos," Araghchi warned. "Humanity has come too far as a species to allow a lawless bully to take us back to the law of the jungle."
Araghchi criticized what he described as Western support for Israeli actions, referencing reported comments by the German Chancellor describing Israel as doing "dirty work." "It's a shame," he said. "They know that Israel is doing a dirty job and they support it and they give it every right to do it and they call it defending itself."
Military Readiness and National Resolve
Iranian officials emphasized military preparedness and national determination to resist what they characterized as aggression. "Our armed forces are ready, our people with high level of self-confidence and with high level of motivation is ready to defend itself," Araghchi said.
He described the attacks as damaging Iranian national honor, requiring a defensive response. "The Iranian people's national honor has been damaged. And to win this back, they will defend themselves," he said. "We will never take a step back from our own law, from our honor, from our territory, and from our people."
Context of Regional Tensions
The strikes occurred amid broader regional tensions involving Israel, Iran, and U.S. interests in the Middle East. Araghchi suggested the U.S. action was designed to support Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, describing it as an attempt "to save the Zionist regime and maybe to save the prime minister specifically of the Zionist regime."
"This shows that the White House is under the influence of this individual called Netanyahu," he said. "And this is a shame for the old American citizens."
Araghchi characterized recent Iranian defensive actions as successful, claiming Israel "has not actually reached its targets and aims in Iran, and they have been harmed, and they have actually been in a crisis because of the heroic defense of Iran."
IAEA Criticism
Iran directed particular criticism at the International Atomic Energy Agency and its Director General, whom Araghchi accused of "evidence bias in favor of warmongering parties" that "paved the way for the current violence and bloodshed."
Araghchi called the IAEA's responsibility "clearer than ever" following the attacks on monitored facilities. Iran demanded the IAEA Board of Governors immediately convene to address what it described as dangerous U.S. attacks on peaceful nuclear facilities under full agency safeguards.
The press conference concluded with Iranian officials reaffirming their commitment to territorial defense while calling for international intervention to prevent further escalation. Araghchi emphasized that Iran would continue defensive operations "as long as needed and necessary" while seeking international condemnation of what it characterized as U.S. aggression.
The developments mark a significant escalation in Middle Eastern tensions, with Iran promising retaliation against U.S. actions it describes as violations of international law. The timing during active diplomatic negotiations adds complexity to an already volatile regional situation, with implications for global non-proliferation efforts and international security architecture.
Iranian officials made clear they view the strikes as part of broader U.S.-Israeli coordination against Iranian interests, setting the stage for potential regional escalation despite ongoing diplomatic efforts by Turkey and other regional partners to mediate tensions.
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