Tehran [Iran], June 22: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has strongly condemned the recent U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, calling them a “blatant and illegal aggression” and a grave violation of international law, the UN Charter, and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
In his first official response since the U.S. strikes targeted Iran’s key nuclear sites — Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan — Araghchi stated that Tehran “reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interests, and people.” He accused Washington of “lawless and criminal behavior” for attacking what he described as peaceful nuclear installations.
“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,” Araghchi wrote in a post on X. “The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences.”
Iran’s mission to the United Nations has formally requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, urging the international community to condemn the strikes. The mission described the U.S. action as an “illegal act of aggression” that threatens global peace and security.
The strikes, carried out early Saturday (U.S. local time), involved six B-2 Spirit bombers dropping a dozen “bunker buster” bombs on the heavily fortified Fordow nuclear site, while Navy submarines launched 30 Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAMs) on Natanz and Isfahan, according to a U.S. official cited by CNN. Additional bunker busters were also dropped on Natanz.
President Donald Trump, in his first public remarks following the attack, described the operation as the most challenging and potentially the most lethal of all. “Tonight’s was the most difficult target by far. But if peace does not come quickly, we will go after other targets with precision, speed, and skill,” he warned in an address from the White House.
Trump also emphasized that most remaining Iranian targets “can be taken out in a matter of minutes,” boasting of America’s unmatched military capabilities. “There has never been a military that could do what we did tonight,” he declared.
The President also announced that U.S. Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force General Dan Caine, will hold a press briefing at the Pentagon on Sunday (U.S. local time).