‘Big red line:’ Iran condemns US attacks on nuclear sites
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the United States crossed a “very big red line” when it attacked three of his country’s nuclear sites — Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan — on Saturday, June 21. Araghchi, in remarks at a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Istanbul on Sunday, June 22, called the act an “outrageous, grave and unprecedented violation” of the United Nations’ Charter and international law, according to Al Jazeera.
The United States launched the attacks after a week of missile strikes exchanged between Israel and Iran. These started when Israel struck Tehran’s nuclear facilities on June 13. At a press conference on Sunday, June 22, Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said a final battle damage estimate will take some time, but initial assessments “indicate that all three sites sustained extremely severe damage and destruction.”
During a national address about the attacks, on Saturday, June 21, Trump said “Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated.” Mohammad Manan Raisi, a member of Iran’s parliament, said Fordo was not seriously damaged, though, according to Reuters.
The director general of the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Mariano Grossi, said in a statement that the IAEA was told by Iranian regulatory authorities that there has been no increase in off-site radiation levels. Grossi said the agency doesn’t expect there to be health consequences for people or negative effects on the environment outside of the targeted nuclear sites, but they will continue to monitor and assess the situation.
Iran’s ambassador to the UN, Amir-Saeid Iravani, told the United Nations Security Council on Sunday, June 22 that Iran reserves its “full and legitimate right under international law to defend itself against this blatant U.S. aggression.”
“The timing, nature and the scale of Iran’s proportionate response will be decided by its armed forces,” Iravani said.
Araghchi says US ‘fully responsible’ for consequences of attack
It is the “warmongering and lawless” U.S. government that is going to be “solely and fully responsible for the dangerous consequences and far-reaching implications of its act of aggression,” Aragchi said.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran continues to defend Iran’s territory, sovereignty and people by all means necessary, against not just U.S. military aggression, but also the reckless and unlawful actions of the Israeli regime,” Araghchi said.
Russia’s Foreign Affairs Ministry echoed Araghchi’s comments about the U.S. attacks being a “gross violation of international law.”
“We call for an immediate end to aggression and for stepping up efforts to bring the situation back onto a peaceful, diplomatic track,” the Ministry said.
Mehr News Agency reported that Araghchi arrived in Russia on Sunday afternoon.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the “aggression” America showed is the “main factor behind the Zionist regime’s hostile actions against the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
Trump administration maintains it wants peace
Trump, on Truth Social Saturday night, said any retaliation by Iran “WILL BE MET WITH FORCE FAR GREATER THAN WHAT WAS WITNESSED TONIGHT.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in an interview with CBS News Sunday morning, said Iran “should choose the route of peace,” adding, “If they want to do something else, they’re incredibly vulnerable.”
“The president wants to resolve this diplomatically and peacefully. He gave them the chance to do that,” Rubio said. He accused Iranian officials of playing games and using delay tactics in negotiations with the United States. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also said the United States does not seek war.
Iran has previously said that its nuclear sites are peaceful. While U.S. intelligence agencies determined Iran isn’t trying to build a nuclear weapon, Israel said it is — an assertion Trump agrees with. In the annual threat assessment to Congress, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said that “Iran is not building a nuclear weapon,” putting her at odds with the president who nominated her for the position.
Following the attacks on the nuclear sites, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran said in a statement that the agency still plans on continuing its work. “This organization has put the necessary measures, including legal action, on its agenda to defend the rights of the noble Iranian nation,” the statement reads.
What has Israel said?
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the strikes on Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan were done in full coordination between him and Trump. Once the operation was finished, Netanyahu said, Trump called to congratulate him.
“I thank him from the bottom of my heart,” Netanyahu said. Iran’s nuclear program, Netanyahu said, “endangered the peace of the entire world.”
Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
