TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has condemned the United States’ bombing of three of Iran’s nuclear sites as a “grave violation” of international law, warning of “everlasting consequences” in response to what he described as an unprovoked act of aggression.
“The United States, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has committed a grave violation of the UN Charter, international law, and the NPT [Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons] by attacking Iran’s peaceful nuclear installations,” Araghchi said Sunday, June 22, 2025, in a statement posted on X.
His remarks follow U.S. President Donald Trump’s confirmation that American forces had launched precision strikes on Iran’s Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear facilities.
The president described the mission as a “spectacular military success,” declaring that Iran’s uranium enrichment capacity had been “completely and totally obliterated.”
“Our objective was the destruction of Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world’s number one state sponsor of terror,” Trump said in a televised address from the White House.
“Iran must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks would be far greater and a lot easier.”
Iran has rejected the U.S. justification, insisting its nuclear programme is peaceful and operating under international inspection.
Araghchi characterised the strikes as an assault on Iran’s sovereignty and a dangerous precedent for global security.
“In accordance with the UN Charter and its provisions allowing a legitimate response in self-defense, Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people,” he said.
Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation, via state media, reported that no radioactive material had been released from the targeted facilities.
The claim was backed by Saudi Arabia’s nuclear regulatory authority, which confirmed that no radioactive contamination had been detected in the Gulf region following the attack.
In a swift retaliatory move, Iran launched missiles toward Israeli territory early on Sunday, June 22, 2025.
Multiple explosions were reported over Tel Aviv as air raid sirens sounded across several districts.
The Israeli military confirmed the attacks and said its air defense systems were activated, but has not disclosed the full extent of the damage or casualties.
The escalation marks a turning point in the ongoing confrontation between Iran and the U.S.-Israel alliance, dramatically raising fears of a wider regional conflict.
It is the first time the United States has directly bombed Iranian nuclear facilities.
A U.S. official, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said B-2 stealth bombers were deployed to strike the Fordow facility using bunker-busting GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators.
The weapon, capable of penetrating deep underground targets, was used in combat for the first time during this operation.
In a social media post following the operation, Trump wrote: “A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are now outside of Iranian airspace and safely on their way home.”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Saturday expressed “grave alarm” over the airstrikes, warning of a potential escalation into a full-scale regional war.
“There is a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of control — with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world,” Guterres said in a statement.
There has been no official response yet from the European Union or Russia, both of whom were signatories to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal that the Trump administration withdrew from in 2018.
The Iranian government has not yet disclosed whether it plans to escalate further, but Araghchi’s statement strongly hinted at retaliatory actions to come.
“The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences,” he warned.
“Each and every member of the UN must be alarmed over this extremely dangerous, lawless and criminal behaviour.”
The United States, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has committed a grave violation of the UN Charter, international law and the NPT by attacking Iran’s peaceful nuclear installations.
The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting…
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) June 22, 2025
